(Yicai Global) Sept.15 -- From Sept.4 to 11, Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection Zeev Elkin visited China. This is the second time he visited China following PM Netanyahu׳s China visit this March.

On Sept 4, Minister Elkin visited the satellite environment center of the ministry of environmental protection.

On Sept 5, Minister Elkin met with the Director General of the China National Center for Science and Technology Evaluation, Dr. Wang Ruijun, and discussed possible cooperation.

On Sept 6, Minister Elkin met with his Chinese counterpart Li Ganjie in Beijing, expressed his willingness to strengthen the cooperation on environmental protection innovation, and exchanged ideas with the Chinese side on deepening the cooperation on various environmental protection fields. He also proposed to implement the professional cooperation between the two sides through regulation and policy exchange, further support of business events and activities (like the joint cleantech seminars held in Beijing and Nanjing during this visit) and encouragement of joint academic research.

After the meeting, the two sides signed a three-year action plan on environmental cooperation (2017-2019).

During his visit to China, Minister Elkin paid a special visit to Jiangsu Province. This is a first visit of an Israeli minister to the province in 3 years. The Minister met Jiangsu Governor Wu Zhenglong in Nanjing. During the meeting, both leaders agreed on strengthening the ties between Jiangsu and Israel and discussed practical steps to enhance the cooperation in various environmental fields following an MOU on cooperation in environmental protection fields that was signed between Jiangsu and Israel last June. The cooperation is expected to include among others exchange of knowledge on policy and regulatory issues, cooperation between environmental technology companies of both sides, as well as exchange of delegations. Governor Wu said that he would personally help with promoting the professional cooperation between the sides. The Minister invited Governor Wu to visit Israel next year. 

Following the meeting with the Governor, Minister Elkin met with Mr. Cheng Mengmeng, Director General (DG) of Jiangsu Provincial Environmental Protection Department (EPD). At this meeting the sides elaborated further on the cooperation, including exchange of visits and platforms for cooperation between companies. It is worth mentioning that a delegation from Jiangsu EPD headed by DDG Mr. Qin Yadong is visiting Israel this week to participate in the Watec water and environment technologies exhibition and conference. DG expressed the hope that additional Israeli clean-tech companies will begin operating in Jiangsu. The sides agreed to promote pilot projects for Israeli technologies. Minister Elkin invited the DG to lead another delegation to Israel in 2018.

The visit to Jiangsu was concluded with an Israel-China Clean-Tech Business Seminar, in which minister Elkin and Mr. Lu Liusheng, Deputy Secretary General of People's Government of Jiangsu Province delivered the opening remarks. The seminar attracted 75 Chinese companies, and 50 b2b meetings were held during the seminar between Israeli and Chinese companies.

Minister Elkin and his delegation continued to Shanghai On September 8th. While in Shanghai, Minister Elkin met Deputy Mayor of Shanghai, Xu Kunlin. Both leaders agreed on a number of practical steps to enhance the cooperation between Shanghai and Israel in various environmental issues, including treatment of wastewater and water pollution. Deputy Mayor Xu expressed his hope that Israeli companies will help to turnShanghai into a science and technology hub. The sides agreed to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding between them and to work towards a business delegation from Shanghai to Israel next year. Minister Elkin invited the Deputy Mayor to visit Israel.

The delegation also met with Senior Representatives from the NCSTE regarding the possibility of cooperation between the new "Green Technology Bank" (GTB) to be established in Shanghai and the State of Israel- thus creating a possible platform for environmental technology cooperation between Israeli and Chinese companies, to be based in Shanghai.

The delegation was hosted for study tour of a WTE (waste to energy) Center operated by SMI environment and examined possible ways of cooperation in this field.

During his time in Shanghai, the Minister visited Historical Sites and was deeply impressed by the warm hospitality and assistance awarded to the Jewish Refugees during WW2 by the people of Shanghai. 

The Successful visit in China resulted in a number of practical decisions and agreements which will accelerate and deepen the cooperation between both countries on national and provincial levels.