Japan is far left behind in this ties now. Wake up, Japan! (Lily)Algemeiner(http://www.algemeiner.com)
(1) Israel and China Strengthen Economic Ties in Tel Aviv Conference , 2 November 2014
by Anav Silverman / Tazpit News agency
One of Israel’s most influential business conferences, the 12th Go4Israel Conference, was held last week at the Hilton Tel Aviv, and placed particular attention on China. More than 1,000 participants took part in the conference including international and local entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders.
“The conference reflects Israel’s role in bringing the world’s Western and Eastern economies together. With an increasing presence of China in Israel’s business scene, we can help enhance global relationships between investors and entrepreneurs, mainly from Europe, China, and Israel,” said Edouard Cukierman, the chairman and founder of Cukierman & Co. Investment House, which organized the conference along with its private equity fund, Catalyst Fund.
Cukierman & Co. heads Israel’s largest investment team and has been involved for the past 20 years in raising €4 billion, much of it for Israeli startups and mature companies.
“Israel has always been the center of attraction for investors and entrepreneurs from around the world,” Cukierman added.
Hong Kong property tycoon Ronnie Chan agrees. Chan, chairman of the Hang Lung Group, received the Go4Israel achievement award at this year’s conference in honor of his contribution to strengthening the business and political relationship between China and Israel.
“Israel is at the center of the world,” Chan told Tazpit News Agency. “Geographically and historically, this region has always been at the center,” he told Tazpit.
Chan, a devout Christian, has been visiting Israel frequently over the past 36 years, and has brought many delegations of major Chinese business leaders and entrepreneurs to introduce to Israeli high-tech companies.
A featured speaker at the conference and one of the participants in the Go4China panel, Chan spoke of what initially sparked China’s interest in Israel.
“Chinese businessmen are intrigued by Israel, both Christians and atheists. The book Start-Up Nation was read widely throughout China and really did a lot for Israel,” Chan said during a panel discussion.
According to Cukierman, China has acquired $7 billion in Israeli assets in the past three years.
This year alone, the Chinese equity-investment management and financial-services company Yongjin Group Inc., has invested between $15 million and $20 million into Israel’s Pitango Venture Capital. In late August, Chinese computer maker Lenovo Group Ltd. invested $10 million in venture fund Canaan Partner Israel, which is affiliated with the American-based Canaan Partners. Ping An Venture has made six investments in Israeli startups, following the creation of a $100 million fund dedicated to U.S. and Israeli tech ventures. Ping An Venture also invested in a new fund set up by Israel’s Carmel Ventures capital firm, as did Chinese Internet search engine Baidu.
“We are firm believers of combining two market places – China and Israel, together,” said Shengyan Fan, the managing partner of Catalyst CEL Fund, a joint venture between China Everbright Limited and Cuckierman, during the panel discussion. “I’m really happy to be here – I’ve been to Israel many times in the last two years and look forward to achieving mutual goals together,” she said.
Other panel discussions dealt with the place of Europe in Israel’s business agenda, opportunities and risks in the global and local real estate market, and the image of Israel abroad.
Chan related that during the Gaza war, a Chinese delegation of businessmen had visited Israel. “Even with Hamas firing rockets, not one member of the delegation wanted to leave,” said Chan. “They were too intrigued by Israel. These businessmen have become Israel’s friends for life now.”
(2)Chinese Hebrew University Bible Student Aces Top Beijing Quiz Show, Lauds Israeli Ties , 26 October 2014
A Chinese student of Bible and the Ancient Near East studies at The Hebrew University (HU) of Jerusalem recently represented the school and Israel on China’s highest-rated game show, HU said on Sunday.
Lechao Tang, 24, of Wenzhou, China was invited by China’s national TV channel to participate in a Chinese version of an Israeli hit quiz show, “La’uf Al Hamiliyon” (Trying for a Million), in a meet against students from Harvard, Yale, Cambridge and other leading universities.
The particular episode of the highly-rated trivia program, which offers contestants the opportunity to win prizes, was the second highest ranking TV show of the day, and the sixth highest ranked of the week — the program’s best recent achievement, according to HU.
“I’m glad to be a link between the Hebrew University and my home country of China,” Lechao said.
“It’s an exciting cultural opportunity for me to introduce Hebrew U to China from the point of view of a Chinese student,” according to Lechao, who is pursuing a master’s degree at the university’s Rothberg International School,
“The hosts of the TV show are a couple and they’ve been to Israel. They shared an anecdote about the wife placing a note in the Western Wall for good luck to have a baby — and this year they had a son! They also showed a video I made of my classmates’ multilingual blessings wishing me luck,” he said in a statement sent to reporters.
Lechao, whose name means “Happy” in Chinese, completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Oregon in the US. He originally went there to study linguistics but he quickly fell in love with Judaic studies. “I couldn’t resist the beauty of the Hebrew language, so I chose to study further,” he said.
Lechao teaches Hebrew online through “One-Man University,” a non-profit Chinese educational start-up, and introduces Hebrew and Israel to Chinese Internet users via a personal blog.
Lechao sees many similarities between the Jewish and Chinese peoples, from customs to festivals and philosophies.
“I believe that these two important peoples should cooperate in the course of globalization. My people should know more about the Jewish people and vice versa. And I would like to be a messenger between them,” he said.
Watch Lechao in action during the episode:
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