The Anti Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish organization based in the US, visited the historical and cultural relics site in Harbin City in Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on Sunday.

 

The delegation exchanged views with Chinese researchers on Jewish history and people, watched an exhibition on the history and culture of Jewish people in Harbin and visited a memorial park for Jews here.

 

In the 1920s, Harbin was once a largest center in the Far East where Jewish people gathered. The Jewish people had established a complete community with economic and cultural life in Harbin. Numerous Jewish relics, including assembly halls, schools, banks and memorial parks, have been well preserved.

 

Abraham Foxman, head of the ADL delegation, said China has been one of the few countries who have opened its door to Jewish people who received respect here from the Chinese people.

 

Foxman praised Harbin as a model of respect and understanding between nations and thanked the Chinese government for the "great efforts" in protecting Jewish relics here.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2006)