On December 18, 2020, Assistant Foreign Minister Deng Li met with outgoing Israeli Ambassador to China Zvi Heifetz.

Deng Li spoke positively of Zvi Heifetz's contribution of promoting China-Israel relations during his four-year tenure as Israeli Ambassador to China. Deng hopes he could continue to support China-Israel ties. Deng Li said, China and Israel have made substantial progress in growing their innovative comprehensive partnership. The two countries have supported each other in the fight against COVID-19. China's fostering of a new development paradigm will bring greater opportunities to the development of the bilateral relations. China will work with Israel to deepen mutual political trust, leverage respective strengths and expand win-win cooperation for sound and steady development of bilateral ties.

Zvi Heifetz expressed gratitude for China's support during his tenure, and highly commended China's achievements in the fight against the pandemic. He said, Israel and China assist each other in the fight against the virus, which demonstrates the strong resilience of the Israel-China relations. Israel will continue to work with China for new progress in innovative comprehensive partnership.