Carry Forward the Millennium Friendship Through Win-Win Cooperation——In Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Ties Between China and Israel
传承千年友好情谊，谱写合作共赢华章——庆祝中国与以色列建交30周年
Ambassador Cai Run Published a Signed Article on The Jerusalem Post
驻以色列大使蔡润在《耶路撒冷邮报》发表署名文章
2022年1月25日
25 January 2022
Today marks an important day in the history of the China-Israel relationship. On Jan. 24th, 1992, exactly 30 years ago, China and Israel established diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level and opened a new chapter in the relations between the two countries and peoples. On Nov. 17th, 2021, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with President Isaac Herzog. Both leaders agreed to take the 30th anniversary as an opportunity to deepen the China-Israel relationship, which provided strategic guidance and charted the course for bilateral relations going forward.
今天是中以关系中一个重要的日子，30年前的今天，1992年1月24日，中国和以色列建立大使级外交关系，翻开了两国和中犹民族关系史上的崭新一页。2021年11月17日，中国国家主席习近平同以色列总统赫尔佐格通话，两国元首一致同意以中以建交30周年为契机，进一步深化两国关系，这为两国关系发展提供了战略引领，指明了前进方向。
Over the past 30 years, with joint efforts made by leaders and peoples of both countries, China-Israel relations have achieved great progress in fruitful cooperation, and the friendship between the two ancient civilizations has been renewed.
30年来，在两国领导人和两国人民共同努力下，中以关系取得长足发展，务实合作结出硕果累累，两个古老民族的传统友谊焕发出新的光芒。
The past 30 years have witnessed ever-increasing political mutual trust. Leaders of the two countries have maintained close interaction, and friendly exchanges have been carried out at all levels. We established the China-Israel Intergovernmental Mechanism of Economic and Technological Cooperation and the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation. In 2017, we launched the China-Israel Innovative Comprehensive Partnership, marking a new historical point for bilateral ties.
两国政治互信不断增强。两国领导人保持密切互动，各层级友好往来全面开花。中以政府间经济技术合作机制、中以创新合作联委会机制相继建立。2017年，两国宣布建立创新全面伙伴关系，双边关系站在新的历史起点上。
The past 30 years have witnessed vigorous development of mutually beneficial cooperation. The bilateral trade volume has increased more than 450 times in just 30 years. It rose from just $50 million in 1992 to $17.54 billion in 2020, and then to $22.8 billion in 2021, registering a 30% year-on-year growth. This fully illustrates the great potential, bright prospects and strong resilience of China-Israel cooperation. China is Israel’s largest trading partner in Asia and the third-largest in the world. While Chinese companies have participated in Israel’s infrastructure projects, many innovative Israeli firms have settled in China. The two sides have cooperated in such landmark projects as the new port of Haifa, the Red Line of the Tel Aviv Light Rail, the China-Israel Changzhou Innovation Park, and the China-Israel (Shanghai) Innovation Park, making innovation cooperation a highlight and a driving force for bilateral relations.
两国互利合作蓬勃发展。两国贸易额从建交之初的5000万美元上升到2020年的175.4亿美元，2021年达到228亿美元，同比增长30%，在短短30年间增长450多倍，充分体现了两国合作的深厚潜力、广阔前景和强大韧性。中国稳居以色列在亚洲第一、全球第三大贸易伙伴地位。一些中国企业积极参与以色列基础设施建设，许多以色列创新企业到中国落户发展，双方合作打造海法新港、特拉维夫红线轻轨、中以常州创新园、上海创新园等标志性项目，创新合作成为两国关系亮点和助推器。
The past 30 years have witnessed a flourishing of people-to-people exchanges. While only a few thousand trips were made between the two countries in 1992, today’s people-to-people exchanges are much more vigorous. The two countries opened direct flights between the Israeli city of Tel Aviv and the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hong Kong before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. In 2019, 170,000 visits were made by Chinese tourists to Israel and around 100,000 by Israelis to China. There are now 24 pairs of sister cities between China and Israel. These interactions have brought our peoples’ hearts closer and deepened our friendship.
两国人文交流持续深化。1992年，两国每年人员往来只有几千人次，如今中以人文交流已十分活跃。新冠肺炎疫情前，中国北京、上海、广州、成都、香港开通直达特拉维夫航班。2019年，赴以色列中国公民达17万人次，以色列公民赴华旅游人数约10万人次。两国累计结成24对友好城市。两国人民亲密互动促进民心相通，两个民族传统友谊在传承中愈发深厚。
All these achievements could not have been made without our leaders’ great foresight and unremitting visions and efforts by friends in various sectors from both sides. Over the past three decades, China-Israel relations have managed to withstand tests of the changing international landscape and kept sound and steady development by focusing on friendly cooperation, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. This brings us much valuable experience that is worth carrying forward.
这些成绩的取得，离不开两国领导人的高瞻远瞩，离不开两国各界友好人士的不懈努力和辛勤耕耘。30年来，中以关系经受住国际风云变幻考验，始终沿着友好合作、彼此尊重、互利共赢主线，保持健康稳定发展，有不少宝贵经验值得我们总结和传承。
Firstly, we need to carry forward the thousand-year-long, everlasting friendship. Both the Chinese and Jewish people boast long histories and splendid cultures. Both are known for their enormous contributions to world civilization, their great sufferings in history, and their tenacity and ceaseless pursuit of national rejuvenation and development. Thousands of miles apart, the Chinese and Jewish people started friendly exchanges over 1,000 years ago and have since gotten along with each other on friendly terms, with mutual respect and support. There has never been antisemitism in China. During the Second World War, Shanghai and other Chinese cities accommodated a large number of Jewish refugees. The Jewish people also lent a helping hand to us in our difficult times, leaving many touching stories. This everlasting friendship is the historical and emotional foundation of the vitality in China-Israel relations.
要传承跨越千年、历久弥坚的友好情谊。中犹两大民族都拥有悠久历史和璀璨文化，都对世界文明发展做出过巨大贡献，也都遭受过深重灾难，但都依靠坚韧自强实现民族复兴发展。中以虽相隔千里，但两大民族早在一千多年前就开始友好交往，一直相互尊重、相互支持。中国从来没有反犹主义。二战期间，中国上海等地接纳大量犹太难民，犹太人民也在中国人民面临困难时给予无私帮助，留下许多值得铭记的感人故事。传承这份友好情谊，是中以关系保持生机与活力的历史和感情基础。
Secondly, we need to follow the spirit of mutual respect and seek consensus while shelving differences. There is no direct and fundamental conflict of interests between China and Israel, nor are there any outstanding historical issues. Although our historical and cultural traditions, development stages, ideologies, and social systems differ, and we hold different views on some issues, the differences haven’t become obstacles to our friendly exchanges. We have upheld mutual respect and sought common ground while shelving differences. We have always respected each other’s development path and strictly abided by the basic norms governing international relations, including mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs. These efforts helped strengthen the political foundation of bilateral relations.
要遵循相互尊重、求同存异的交往之道。中以两国没有直接和根本利害冲突，没有悬而未决的历史问题。两国历史文化传统、发展阶段、意识形态、社会制度各异，对一些问题的看法也不尽相同，但这并未成为两国友好交往的障碍。双方始终本着相互尊重、求同存异的精神，尊重彼此发展道路，恪守相互尊重主权、互不干涉内政等国际关系基本准则，不断筑牢两国关系的政治根基。
Thirdly, we need to take a win-win and mutually reinforcing approach in cooperation. China has excellent manufacturing capabilities and a huge market, and Israel has advanced technology and strong creativity. Our respective advantages are complementary. Chinese companies have made up for Israel’s shortage of labor force and high cost of manpower by taking part in infrastructure construction. Meanwhile, innovative Israeli enterprises have injected momentum into China’s development as they settled in China for business. It is clear that China and Israel, as innovative, comprehensive partners, have similar visions on cooperation, complementary development strengths, and a strong impetus for win-win cooperation. Together we can make the pie of shared interests bigger and provide greater energy for bilateral relations.
要秉持互利共赢、相互成就的合作精神。中国强大的产业能力和广阔市场，同以色列的先进科技和创新能力相得益彰。中国企业参与以色列国内基建，弥补了以色列劳动力缺乏、人力成本高的短板。以色列创新企业到中国落户发展，为中国创新发展注入动力。事实充分证明，中以作为创新全面伙伴，合作理念契合、优势互补，具有强大的内生合作动力；两国合作互利共赢、大有可为，可以相互借力、彼此成就，做大共同利益蛋糕，不断增强两国关系的动力。
These pieces of valuable experience, cherished by both sides, are the foundation and guidance for China-Israel relations going forward. The age of 30 bears special significance in both Chinese and Jewish cultures. As the Chinese sage Confucius once said, “A man should be steadfast at the age of thirty.” Being steadfast means being independent, mature, unhurried, and unwavering. The Talmud also regards 30 as the most energetic age in life. Thirty years have passed, and the China-Israel relationship is indeed full of vigor. Looking to the future, we need to work together to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders, follow the right direction, and promote the steady development of the China-Israel Innovative Comprehensive Partnership in the long run.
这些宝贵经验是中以两国共同的财富，为两国关系未来发展奠定了基础、提供了遵循。30岁在中犹文化中都具有重要意义。中国圣贤孔子讲“三十而立”，“立”标志着自主和成熟，意味着从容不迫和坚定不移。《塔木德》将30岁视为人一生中精力最旺盛的时期。历经春秋三十载，中以关系恰风华正茂。接下来，我们应共同努力，落实好两国领导人达成的重要共识，牢牢把握双边关系发展正确方向，推动中以创新全面伙伴关系行稳致远。
We should continue to increase strategic mutual trust, intensify exchanges at all levels and deepen communication and political mutual trust. We should respect each other’s major concerns and enhance mutual understanding and support through dialogue and consultation. China-Israel cooperation, based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, is an independent and voluntary choice made by both sides. It is not aimed at and should not be affected by any third parties. We need to look at our bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective and continue to enhance strategic mutual trust through friendly exchanges. No matter how the international landscape may change, we must stick to the right direction of bilateral relations and not let floating clouds block our vision. The key to friendship must be held in our own hands.
要不断增进战略互信。密切各层级交往，不断深化战略沟通和政治互信。尊重彼此重大关切，通过对话协商增进相互了解、相互支持。中以合作是建立在相互尊重、平等互利基础上的，是双方自主和自愿选择，既不针对第三方，也不应受第三方影响。要坚持从战略高度和长远角度看待两国关系发展，通过友好交往不断增进战略互信，无论国际风云如何变幻，始终做到“不畏浮云遮望眼”，牢牢把握两国关系发展的正确方向，把友谊的钥匙牢牢握在自己手中。
We should focus on expanding mutually beneficial cooperation. We are ready to deepen cooperation in science, technology, agriculture and health, and expand exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, tourism, sports and other fields. In doing so, we can give full play to the complementary advantages of both sides, and seek and expand our overlapping interests, so that China and Israel will achieve common development and our people will have a greater sense of fulfillment. The Sixth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), held not long ago, reviewed the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC in the past century, and sent out signals that China will maintain a high level of stability and consistency in its major policies and plans, and will sustain rapid economic development and long-term social stability. It emphasized that China would stick to peaceful development, adhere to reform and opening up, and stay committed to the win-win approach. China has also rolled out the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Long-Range Goals for 2035 and kicked off the building of a new development paradigm. The vast market consisting of 1.4 billion people, including more than 400 million in the middle-income bracket, will release its full potential, and China’s new development will certainly bring new opportunities to Israel.
要聚焦扩大互利合作。中方愿同以方深化科技、农业、医疗卫生等领域合作，拓展文化、教育、旅游、体育等领域交流合作，充分发挥双方互补优势，积极寻找和扩大利益交汇点，不断拓展合作新领域，实现共同发展，给两国人民带来更多的获得感。不久前召开的中共十九届六中全会，系统总结中共建党百年重大成就和历史经验，发出中国大政方针保持高度稳定性和连续性、将延续经济快速发展和社会长期稳定的信号，强调中国将坚持和平发展，坚持改革开放，坚持互利共赢。中国颁布“十四五”规划和2035年远景目标纲要，正在推动构建新发展格局，14亿人口、4亿以上中等收入群体构成超大规模市场和内需潜力将充分释放，中国的新发展必将为以色列发展带来更多新的机遇。
We should consolidate our traditional friendship. Amity between the peoples holds the key to good relations between countries. Our traditional friendship and similarities in the Chinese and Jewish cultures are valuable assets that should be consolidated constantly. We should take the 30th anniversary as an opportunity to increase exchanges and cooperation in culture, education, tourism, sports and other areas to cement the basis of our friendship. In 10 days, the 24th Winter Olympics will be held in Beijing. We warmly welcome the Israeli athletes and wish them good luck. I believe the Beijing Winter Olympics will further strengthen our friendship and bring our hearts closer.
要持续巩固传统友谊。“国之交在于民相亲”。中犹传统友谊和中犹文化相似点是促进中以友好的无形资产，应不断加强和夯实。要以共同庆祝建交30周年为契机，拓展文化、教育、旅游、体育等领域交流合作，厚植两国友好民意基础。再过10天，第24届冬奥会将在北京开幕，热烈欢迎以色列各界朋友共享这场冰雪盛事，预祝以色列体育健儿取得佳绩！相信这次冬奥会将进一步促进两国人民友谊，拉近两国人民心灵。
As the 9th Chinese Ambassador to Israel, I have undertaken a glorious mission with important responsibilities. A year has passed since I assumed my post, and I have been deeply impressed by the Israeli people’s friendliness and great passion for China-Israel ties. I strongly believe the friendship between our two countries will become even more solid and our future even brighter.
我作为中国第九任驻以大使，深感使命光荣，责任重大。到任一年来，我深刻感受到以色列人民对中国的友好之情，感受到以色列各界对发展中以关系的巨大热情。我坚信，中以友谊将会更加坚固，中以关系的明天会更加美好！
I will, along with my colleagues at the Chinese Embassy, work with friends on both sides to consolidate our amity, sow more seeds of friendship, and build more bridges for mutually beneficial cooperation. May the ship of the China-Israel relationship sail full steam ahead under our concerted efforts toward a brighter future.
我将和使馆的同事们一道，同中以各界朋友携手努力，不断巩固中犹民族之亲，播撒更多友谊的种子，为中以互利合作搭建更多桥梁，推动中以关系扬帆远航，行稳致远，共同谱写中以关系新华章！