While Beijing supports Palestine and has a fractious relationship with Tel Aviv\u2019s closest ally, cutting-edge innovations keep them together.<\/b>
\nAlthough the war in Gaza has clearly cooled diplomatic ties and sparked disputes between China and Israel, science and technology cooperation at a civil level between the two countries has continued.
\u201cI have a feeling that we have a lot of common ground and plenty of opportunities for cooperation in sectors such as energy and agriculture,\u201d said Yaroslav Efimov, head of science and technology at PLANETech, an Israeli non-profit innovation community specialising in climate change-related technologies and part of the Israel Innovation Institute.
Efimov was in China on a five-day trip in late January to promote the technological development of Israel and its innovation system. During his trip, he met representatives from various Chinese organisations, including the International Ecological Economy Promotion Association and the China Society of Automotive Engineers.
\u201cI understand that not everyone knows about Israel\u2019s potential and capacity, or the technologies we are developing,\u201d Efimov said. \u201cIn the meantime, it\u2019s also important for us to understand what our peers in China are looking for and what their demands are.\u201d
International relations experts warn that the fallout from the Gaza crisis, combined with a growing rivalry between China and the US \u2013 Israel\u2019s closest ally \u2013 could further complicate ties between Beijing and Tel Aviv.
However, \u201cscience is science\u201d, Efimov said in an interview on January 22. \u201cI am very happy to see this week that we speak the same language.\u201d<\/p>\n