Ambassador Nadai concludes his term leaving China and Israel relations strong

Ambassador Nadai concludes his term leaving China and Israel relations strong

 

Israel’s Ambasador to China Amos Nadai has just completed his 5 year term in Beijing. Prior to his appointment, Nadai did spend some time dealing with the Asia region as Deputy Director General for Asia and the Pacific for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Nadai took the post of ambassador to China in August 2007, his departure comes as China and Israel celebrates 20 years of diplomatic relations.

Ambassador Nadai sat down with Jewish Times Asia and provided an insight into his time spent, one the most important and significant diplomatic missions for his country.

“My main focus was to build up recognition and mutual understanding between the two nations and raise IsraelChina relations to new levels, especially on how our ministry of foreign affairs in Israel understands how China works and for us to get closer. China has a deep respect for Israel and the Jewish people and we managed to extract and share common values,” commented Nadai.

“We concentrated in three broad areas: diplomatic relations, promoting Israel’s knowledge and expertise and academic education. During my term, we provided the urgent needs of China, especially innovation for agriculture technology. The government of China looks at itself in terms its success as it feeds its billion plus population. Israel provided the perfect fit we have the know how for innovative agricultural farming techniques, irrigation, fertilization, water conservation and much more.”

“We also achieved tremendous success in academic cooperation, establishing a mechanism for Chinese students to conduct joint post-doctorate research and providing scholarship programmes for elite students to study in Israel with Nobel laureates.”

One additional highlight was Nadai’s title of honorary citizen of Chengdu. “The receptiveness of the local government in Sichuan Province was exceptional. We both understood exchanges in cooperation. I was so proud, as this was achieved in one of the most important cities in China, it can be achieved anywhere in the country.”

Perhaps his only regret was the potential for Chinese tourism to Israel. “There was not enough planning to develop and at present flights are increasing but not as many as we have hoped.”

Israel’s next ambassador to China has got a lot to build on.

Jewish Times Asia (Issue September 2012)