Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert arrived in Beijing on Tuesday
morning kicking off a three-day official visit to China. On the
first day of his trip, Olmert visited a China-Israel demonstration
dairy farm in the eastern suburbs of Beijing.
After unveiling the cornerstone of a cooperation center for
modern dairy technology in the farm, Olmert tried his hand at
milking a cow through the farm’s machinery.
The latest Israeli technologies are used in this 18-hectare
farm. Its average milk production per head of cattle topped 10 tons
per year in 2005 up from under 8 tons when the farm was established
in 2001.
"I hope all Chinese dairy farms could follow the system, "said
Olmert with a smile.
Olmert also visited the Beijing Olympic venue construction sites
located in the northern part of the city.
He showed great interest in the national stadium known as the
"bird's nest" and the National Aquatic Center called the "water
cube", due to be completed this year.
The Prime Minister spoke of his amazement at seeing such great
sports venues, and there is enough time for Beijing to complete its
Olympic preparations.
"You are going to have the most spectacular Olympic Games ever.
I wish you on behalf of the people of Israel, that the spirit of
friendship and good competition will mark this event," Olmert wrote
on the visitors' book.
This has been Olmert's first visit to China since taking office
last May. Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao will
meet or hold talks with him respectively on China-Israel relations,
regional and international issues of common concern, sources with
the Chinese Foreign Ministry said.
He is also expected to attend a series of activities marking the
15th anniversary of the establishment of China-Israel diplomatic
ties, the sources added.
Prior to his China visit, Olmert highlighted in an interview
with Xinhua in Jerusalem that the development of Sino-Israeli
relations was "exciting" and "promising".
He stressed that China is not only a big economic power, but an
important country playing a significant role in some regional and
global issues.
"Anything China can contribute to facilitate the political
dialogue is something Israel will always welcome," Olmert said.
As a son of a former Jewish resident in China with both his
parents born in Harbin, Olmert said he had a spiritual tie with the
Asian country.
"The Chinese culture is part of my heritage and part of my
earliest memory as a young kid in the state of Israel," the Israeli
Prime Minister said.
(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2007)
