Aircraft cooperation leads list of Israel-China deals

The number of agreements to be signed during today's (June 27) opening ceremony of the 3rd China-Israel Investment Summit at the Zhuhai International Conference & Exhibition Center has risen from 11 to 13.

The nearly $3 billion in agreements are for major projects in fields including civil aviation, agricultural technology, and electric appliances. Chief among these is Israel Aerospace Industries and China Aviation Industry General Aircraft's announcement that they will work together on civilian aircraft.

A state-level Sino-Israeli innovation fund will also open during the ceremony. The fund is being created by Huafa Group and SDIC Fund Management Co Ltd, a subsidiary of China's largest state-owned investment holding company, State Development & Investment Corp.

Representatives arrive in Shizimen Central Business District

The summit, following up on those in Beijing in January and Tel Aviv in September 2016, is expected to boost Sino-Israeli economic and industrial cooperation with the international influence of fast-growing Zhuhai.

The two-day event coincides with the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Israel, a relationship widely regarded as a model for pragmatic bilateral cooperation.

Some 2,500 people will attend the opening ceremony including heavyweight business leaders, investors, and scholars. More than 5,200 people are to take part in activities during the summit.

More than 146 Israeli enterprises sent 255 representatives to scout out business opportunities in China's emerging industries. These include vehicular automation, internet finance, industrial applications, life sciences, artificial intelligence, robotics, big data, mobile information, clean energy, AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and the internet.

Zhuhai corporate exhibit zone [Photos provided by Huafa Group]

An exhibition featuring the latest scientific and technological innovations from Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Harbin, Dongguan, Changzhou, Dalian, and Yangjiang will take place in a 5,000-sq-m hall. Separate zones will also display cutting-edge products from 112 Israeli businesses and more than 200 Chinese corporate exhibitors.

Eleven keynote speeches will be made to present industry leaders with professional views on Sino-Israeli cooperation and innovative reforms in emerging industries.

Speakers include Zhang Xuguang, executive vice president of China Development Bank; Gree Electric Appliances President Dong Mingzhu; Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun; Xiong Xiaoge, chairman of the board of IDG Ventures; Jiang Nanchun, founder and chairman of the board of Focus Media Group; and Ba Shusong, chief economist at the China Banking Association.

Several high-profile figures from Israel will also deliver speeches. For example, they include Avi Fischer, chairman of the board and CEO of Clal Industries, a leading investment company; and Jon Medved, founding partner and CEO of the crowdfunding platform OurCrowd.

More than 3,000 B2B meetings are scheduled to give Chinese and Israeli businesses and investors a platform to explore new opportunities for cooperation.

A special event designed to display the state-of-the-art sci-tech innovations from Israel will be held on the second day. Exhibitors include Mobileye, a global leader in the development of vision technology for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS); ReWalk, a renowned Israeli manufacturer of exoskeleton systems; and world-famous 3-D printer manufacturer Stratasys.

A series of roadshows will give innovative start-ups and hi-tech companies opportunities to target investors as well as learn the latest industry trends.

Furthermore, five forums will be held on China-Israel investment and technology sharing in areas such as life sciences, construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and financial development to promote economic growth in Zhuhai.

The summit is included in the Three-Year Action Plan for China-Israel Intergovernmental Mechanism of Economic & Technological Cooperation signed in March between the National Development & Reform Commission (NDRC) and Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

The event is sponsored by the International Cooperation Center of NDRC, Israeli Embassy in China, Consulate General of Israel in Guangzhou, Development & Reform Commission of Guangdong Province, Economic & Information Commission of Guangdong Province, Department of Science & Technology of Guangdong Province, Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, and People's Government of Zhuhai, and organized by Zhuhai Huafa and Infinity groups.