Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz led a 30-member delegation to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing from May 2 to 11.

Steinitz met with Vice Premier Li Keqiang, Finance Minister Xie Xuren and Central Bank Vice President Ma Delun on May 7 in Beijing, the last leg of his tour.

He also held talks with China Everbright Bank, China Development Bank, China Investment Corporation and CITIC Group.

In a Beijing press conference held on May 11, the minister said exchanges with Chinese officials and businessmen had been "fruitful, friendly and open."

This was the first visit by an Israeli Finance Minister in 15 years, and Steinitz said he was aiming to "promote different levels of cooperation," not just trade.

Israel wants to enhance business links with China to gain access to the world's largest market, he said. Israel, in return, can offer high technology to boost Chinese economic growth.

Israeli treasury chief Haim Shani said Israel wants to "encourage Chinese financial institutions to make investments and be part of the success of the new wave of investments in the Israeli high technology market."

He said Israel wants to "encourage joint infrastructure projects between Israeli companies and Chinese counterparts in such areas as water irrigation and energy, primarily in China but also in other parts of the world."

Minister Steinitz met with Hong Kong's Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-Wah on May 2. On May 6, he opened the Israeli Pavilion at the World Expo which features Albert Einstein's manuscripts.