JERUSALEM — Chinese and Israeli leaders promised in Jerusalem on March 29 to promote innovation cooperation in various fields, including economy and trade, science and technology, agriculture, health and education.

The vow was made when visiting Vice-Premier Liu Yandong held separate talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin.

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong, who arrived in Israel on March 28 evening for a two-day visit, said that China-Israel relations have made a significant progress since the two countries established diplomatic ties over two decades ago.

Recent years witnessed booming cooperation in various fields, leading to the establishment of the China-Israel joint committee on innovation cooperation, she said.

China sees Israel as its vital partner, she said, hoping that the two sides will take the second meeting of the joint committee as an opportunity to push forward bilateral innovation cooperation.

Liu stressed the two countries should explore new models of cooperation and make innovation cooperation as a strategic basis for bilateral relations.

She also suggested that people-to-people exchange should play a bigger role in the cooperation so as to constantly push bilateral ties to new levels and broaden their scope.

Netanyahu told Liu that Israel admires the achievements China has made and regards the country as a top priority of its foreign policy.

Israel appreciates that China made the innovation-driven development as a national strategy, said the prime minister, adding that Israel is willing to strengthen exchanges and become an ideal partner of China in innovation cooperation.

Netanyahu said Israel also looks forward to further enhancing cooperation with China in the fields of agriculture, education, science and technology, health care, infrastructure and energy.

He stressed that deepening bilateral pragmatic cooperation is important as such a move is not only consistent with their common strategic interests, but also instrumental in promoting peace and development through the world.

Before meeting with Netanyahu, Liu was received by Israeli President Rivlin at his residence in Jerusalem and both of them also called for closer bilateral cooperation on innovation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (L) before their meeting in Jerusalem on March 29, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

Vice-Premier Liu Yandong (L) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the second meeting of the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation in Jerusalem, March 29, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]