Israel wants Chinese investment, ambassador says, even as Gaza crisis strains ties

Israel’s ambassador to China has asked for Chinese investors to step up their activity, despite the escalating crisis in Gaza

Emerging technologies and research mentioned as ripe areas for entrepreneurs to guide inflows

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Israel’s ambassador to China, Irit Ben-Abba Vitale (second from right), at a new year’s celebration in Shanghai. Photo: The Consulate General of Israel in Shanghai

Published: 1:33pm, 19 Jan 2024Updated: 3:55pm, 19 Jan 2024

Israel’s ambassador in China has called on entrepreneurs to strengthen investment in her country, particularly in emerging sectors including food tech – even as the crisis in the Gaza Strip intensifies and bilateral ties come under threat.

The Israeli economy has remained durable despite the deadly conflict with militant Islamist group Hamas and more Chinese investors would be welcome, said Irit Ben-Abba Vitale at a new year celebration in Shanghai earlier this week.

“Our economy is very resilient. We hope that all those companies that are involved in investment or trading or have any kind of economic activities in Israel continue to do so,” she said at a gathering with Israeli diplomats, the business community and the media at the China-Israel Innovation Hub on Tuesday.

The remarks were made at a time when the war and Beijing’s reluctance to publicly condemn Hamas have clouded relations. China is Israel’s second-largest trading partner after the United States.

Chinese companies were encouraged to invest more in sectors including food technology, energy, climate technology, and life sciences as the Middle Eastern country’s Innovation Authority approved a budget for 2024 that put a strong emphasis on those areas earlier this week, Vitale said.