合作与发展——纪念中以政府贷款合作20周年
Foreword by the Minister of Finance Mr. Lou Jiwei
in honor of the 20th Anniversary of Sino-Israel
Government Loan Cooperation
The signing of the first Sino-Israel financial cooperation Protocol by the competent authorities of Chinese
and Israeli governments in April 1995, marked the official beginning of the loan cooperation between the
two governments. Since then, the loan cooperation has been consistently enriched and deepened. Sino-Israel
government loan cooperation projects have covered 29 provinces, cities and autonomous regions of China,
with loan commitment amounting to 2.6 billion U.S. dollars. On the one hand, the implementation of these
projects has promoted the economic and the social development of the project areas. On the other hand, it has
helped expand Israel’s export of equipment and technologies to China, realizing mutual benefits and win-win
results.
Science and technology are fundamental to a country while innovation serves as the source of science
and technology. The Israeli people are far beyond familiar with this simple truth. Developing science and
technology and encouraging innovation has always been taken as Israel’s basic national policy. Although
Israel is located in the desert and suffers from severe water shortage, it makes a miracle by creating a desert
oasis. By virtue of extraordinary wisdom and diligence the Israeli people invent the specific drip irrigation
systems which yields enormous economic and social benefits. Israel’s high-tech industries capture the world’s
attention. In terms of electronics, communication, medicine and environment protection, Israel has advanced
technologies and unique advantages.
Likewise, the Chinese nation, a nation with the same profound history and splendid traditional culture as that
of the Jewish nation, is in constant pursuit and exploration of reform and innovation. As President Xi Jinping
pointed out, “Science and technology are the foundations of a country’s prosperity, and innovation is the soul
driving a nation’s progress.” At present, accelerating comprehensive innovation with a focus on scientific
and technological innovation, implementing innovation-driving development strategy, and guiding the
“new normal” economic development with new concept are of great practical significance in the process of
building economic systems and models suitable for future development and realizing the two “century goals”
and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
The Chinese nation and the Jewish nation are both nations with tremendous wisdom. The economies of the
two countries are complementary, allowing great potential and considerable room for cooperation. Looking
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