Israel is willing to consolidate military cooperation with China and wants more exchanges between military officers and soldiers of the two countries, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Tuesday in Beijing.

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Ehud Barak is answering questions at a press conference at the Israeli embassy in Beijing on June 14, 2011. [China.org.cn]

Barak's visit is the first by an Israeli defense minister in a decade. He previously visited 17 years ago as chief of the general staff.

Israel is looking forward to strengthening bilateral cooperation like anti-terrorism activities and has years of anti-terror experience to share with China, Barak said. Israel also has advanced technologies in computers, agriculture, water purification, seawater desalination and life sciences to share with China and would like to further cooperate with China to develop renewable energy.

Barak said Israel strongly insists on resuming negotiations with Palestine. But he used a Chinese saying to describe Israel's defense strategy: "We will not attack unless we are attacked. If we are attacked, we will certainly counterattack."

Barak later left for Shanghai after meeting with top Chinese defense officials, including Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and PLA Chief of General Staff Chen Bingde.