Leaders of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) held a series of meetings in Beijing last week with senior Chinese officials aimed at strengthening Sino-Judeo relations.
WJC CEO Robert Singer and his deputy Maram Stern held talks with Chinese Middle East Envoy Wu Sike; Deputy Director General at the International Department of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Jiao Zhixin; and with Minister Qiu Yuanping from Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council. Singer and Stern also met with the leadership of the Jewish Community of Beijing and with senior Israeli diplomats in Beijing.
Minister Qiu, who is also a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party, stressed that the Jewish and the Chinese peoples had lived in friendship for generations, and there was strong political, economic, cultural cooperation. The Chinese people, including overseas Chinese had a good feeling towards Jews.
Addressing the WJC delegation, Qiu expressed hope for closer cooperation, through joint efforts, in order to promote the friendship between the two ancient peoples. To that end, it was agreed to set up a task force between the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the World Jewish Congress.
WJC CEO Robert Singer expressed his appreciating to the Chinese side. “All our meetings were held in a very warm atmosphere and all core issues of concern to the World Jewish Congress were discussed and ways of future cooperation explored and agreed. China is one of the top players in international affairs, and it is in the best interests of world Jewry that we forge even closer relations with Beijing.”
The WJC first established relations with Beijing in 1991.
