JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Attracted by China's strong economy and big market, an increasing number of Israeli enterprises are looking forward to intensifying cooperation with China, said Ilan Maor, president of the Israel-China Chamber of Commerce.
"China is such a big economy that you cannot think about the global market, industry and financial system without it," Maor told Xinhua in a recent interview, stressing that given the strength and effectiveness of the Chinese government and economy, as well as the energy and diligence of the Chinese people, the future looks bright for companies seeking to enter the market.
In his office in the Israeli economic hub of Tel Aviv, Maor recalled the Chinese-Israeli business projects he had witnessed. From daily consumer goods to high-tech electronic industries, cross-industry and multi-field business exchanges between the two countries are in full swing, he noted.
Maor said facts have proved that many Israeli enterprises have become stronger after collaborating with Chinese partners that have great financial capabilities and offer growth possibilities.
"The Chinese market is a major market for any company that wants to grow," he said, adding partnership with a strong Chinese company will increase the chance of a company's success.
China is Israel's largest trading partner in Asia and the second largest in the world, and also the largest source of Israel's imported goods.
According to China's General Administration of Customs, the volume of bilateral trade between China and Israel totaled 25.45 billion U.S. dollars in 2022, registering an increase of 11.6 percent year-on-year.
"China is by far the biggest producer in the world and one of the biggest markets in the world. We've seen China opening up more and more in the past decades, and this is a critical trend for the future of the economy," said Maor, noting the future of Israel's technology depends on its capacity to cooperate with powerful economies.
After the Chinese Spring Festival in January, Maor visited several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Changzhou and Jinan, where he met with a number of business partners and government officials.
"It was amazing to see the cities full of life. All the restaurants and places are full of people. You saw the energy and you could feel the energy in the air," he said.
"Their eagerness to make things happen and cooperate was amazing. They are working to achieve their plans, and they are open to cooperation, investment, and businesses," he noted.
As an important participant and facilitator of business exchanges between China and Israel, Maor has kept himself updated with China's development targets. He said he has full confidence in China to achieve a growth target of around 5 percent for 2023.
"China has a very smart government that knows how to design the goals, and how to execute them, that's one very big advantage. The Chinese economy is at its core very strong with a big market. When the hardworking people put their efforts altogether, the results are there," he said.
