China-Israel trade has 'great potential': Vice-premier Liu

There is "great potential" for China-Israel trade, said Vice-Premier Liu Yandong while meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Last year, the two-way trade volume was $11.4 billion, with a year-on-year growth rate of 5 percent. China's total investment in Israel reached $6 billion.

Liu said the two nations helped each other through the wartime and nurtured deep friendship, which "made a sound basis" for the two-way relationship.

Beijing hopes to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen political mutual trust, expand economic and trade cooperation and advance cultural exchanges, Liu said.

Rivlin said his country hopes to further strengthen cooperation in fields such as science, technology, innovation, agriculture and culture, which serves common interests of both sides.

Liu is in a three-stop visit to Egypt, Israel and Palestine from Friday to Thursday.

High-level exchanges between China and the two Middle East countries have maintained a high frequency.

In November last year, Vice-Premier Wang Yang paid a visit to both Palestine and Israel. In May, 2014, Liu paid a five-day official visit to Israel also.