China’s new era of development is win-win with Israel
In the past week, world media had been focusing on a highly significant event in Beijing. The Chinese Communist Party held its 19th National Congress from October 18-24 and Xi Jinping was reelected as general secretary by the new Central Committee on October 25. The messages that this once-in-five-year meeting of the party that leads the second-largest economy in the world are rich and profound, with great domestic and world-wide influence. Some highlights:
• It is perceived that “Socialism with Chinese characteristics” has entered a new era. China’s GDP rose from $8 trillion to $12 trillion over the past five years. Its international status and influence is rapidly growing. The principal contradiction that China faces is between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing need for a better life.
• An overall development plan has been developed for reform as well as party building in the new era, which lays out a blueprint of China’s development over the next 30-some years. It aims to build a prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful China by 2050.
• China’s economic growth has entered a new, normal stage, with a lower but more sustainable growth rate of around 6-7%. Emphasis on economic development is transitioning from speed to quality in a China that will implement wider and bolder socioeconomic reforms while sticking to its opening-up policy.
• China will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion, but commits itself to the establishment of a new type of international relations characterized by mutual respect, fairness, justice and winwin cooperation. Amid a timid recovery of the global economy, rise of protectionism and isolationism, as well as growing challenges like terrorism, environmental degradation, global warming, etc., China serves as a stabilizer of the world economy and a responsible player in global affairs.
As ambassador to Israel, I am also interested in the significance of the 19th CPC National Congress to China-Israel relations. China, under the new party leadership, will continue its innovation-driven development strategy. Israel is wellknown as the Start-Up Nation, strong in creation and innovation, or going from 0 to 1. China, with its strong manufacturing capacity and huge market, is good at going from 1 to 100.
As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said, our two countries’ cooperation is “a marriage made in heaven.” This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel. The past 25 years have witnessed the strengthening of our friendship, and our bilateral cooperation is the best in history.
In March this year, our two countries established the Innovative Comprehensive Partnership, which not only brings our bilateral relations to a new height, but also gives new impetus for future cooperation between our two countries.
Whereas China is entering a new era in its development, Israel, with its cutting-edge technological innovation, ecological agriculture, advanced medical science, water treatment, etc., is destined to be a good partner for China. In cooperating with China, Israel will harvest great benefits for its own economic development and people’s well-being. That is what we call win-win cooperation. The author is ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the State of Israel.