Diplomacy

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Rivlin Meets Envoys of 10 Asian-Pacific Nations in Latest Sign of Improved Ties

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met with the envoys of 10 Asian-Pacific nations in Jerusalem on Wednesday, expressing his appreciation for their cooperation and a desire to further strengthen relations.

Speaking at his residence with ambassadors and charges d’affaires of Australia, India, South Korea, Philippines, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Japan, Myanmar, and Nepal, Rivlin observed that “in the last decade we have increased the trade relationship between our peoples.”

“Today, 27 percent of Israel’s trade is now with the Asia-Pacific. The cooperation is wonderful and we are looking to extend our partnerships with every one of you, and all together,” he added.

Rivlin also highlighted the academic ties between Israel and the represented nations, saying that the exchange of students was a way to unite people.

“We know that events that happen on one side of the world impact on the other,” Rivlin observed. “We must all stand up, and cooperate against those who believe that fundamentalism is the only way. We have to be prepared to carry the burden of security which lies upon us, especially in the face of those who do not accept the very idea of Israel as a state.”

David Sharma, the Australian ambassador to Israel, expressed his gratitude to the president on behalf of the delegation, noting:

We have here a diverse groups of countries, united around a couple of themes; support for the security of Israel and the well-being of the people of Israel; an appreciation of what Israel has achieved in its short history; and a deep appreciation for the unique struggles you face here.

Sharma also thanked Rivlin for supporting “the growing trade relations with our countries, and also your support for pluralism and equal rights for all peoples.”

Israel this week marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of diplomatic ties with China, which were established on January 24, 1992. Trade between the two countries has increased from $50 million annually twenty-five years ago to over $11 billion today, making China Israel’s third largest trading partner.

Trade with Japan has also increased in recent years, growing from $2.05 billion in 2011 to $3.69 billion in 2015, The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.

According to the Post, the improved ties accelerated especially after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Japan in 2014, a trip Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reciprocated a year later. The two nations signed an agreement to cooperate on joint industrial R&D projects in July 2014.

Fujitsu, Japan’s largest information technology company and the fifth largest in the world, opened an office in Israel three months ago. Raanan Biber, country manager for Fujitsu Israel, said that “the Israeli market is very interesting for the company, especially in the cybersecurity area.”

[Photo: Mark Neiman / GPO ]