PM Netanyahu and His Wife Sara Welcomed in the Great Hall of the People;
Economic Agreements Signed
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, today (20 March 2017),
in Beijing, were welcomed in the Great Hall of the People by Chinese Prime
Minister Li Keqiang. The national anthems of China and Israel were played.

The two Prime Ministers held a working meeting that was a breakthrough in
bilateral relations:

- It was agreed to hasten the establishment of a free-trade zone between
Israel and China and the work of the special economic cooperation committee
(NDRC);

- Prime Minister Netanyahu proposed the establishment of a fast track for
Israeli and Chinese investors. It was agreed to advance the idea, which
could lead to many joint agreements;

- Prime Minister Netanyahu also raised the issue of dedicating a direct air
link between Shanghai and Tel Aviv;

- Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chinese Prime Minister Li, and ministers in
their governments, signed a series of agreements:

+ A multi-year taskforce plan (by Prime Minister's Office Director General
Eli Groner);

+ An agreement on foreign workers from China (by Economy and Industry
Minister Eli Cohen);

+ An aviation cooperation agreement (by Israeli Ambassador to China Zvi
Heifetz);

+ The establishment of joint laboratories (by Science, Technology and Space
Minister Ofir Akunis);

Chinese Prime Minister Li is hosting a dinner for Prime Minister Netanyahu.