On 4th March, Mr. Chen Xiaodong, Director-General of The Department of West Asian and North African Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mrs. Ruth Kahanoff, Deputy Director-General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry held a new round of annual institutional consultations between the two foreign ministries.

Both sides agreed that bilateral relations have developed steadily in recent years, high-level officials have paid frequent visits to each other, economic and trade cooperation has been enlarged, science and technology cooperation on agriculture has been highlighted, cultural exchanges have been rich and colorful, and the pragmatic co-operation has brought benefit to the two peoples. This year is the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Sino-Israeli diplomatic relations, the bilateral relations are standing at a new starting point, and both sides should make joint efforts to push bilateral relations to a new level.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in Western Asia and North Africa, the Middle East peace process and other issues.

Mr. Chen and the delegation also met with Mr. Raphael Barak, Director General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry in the same day. Ambassador Gao Yanping among others also participated the consultations and meetings.