A conference to facilitate Shandong-Israel cooperation in the medical and pharmaceutical industries was held on March 30 at the Qingdao-Israel International Business Club in Qingdao, a coastal city in Shandong province.

The event was jointly hosted by the Shandong Sub-council of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the Israel Chamber of Commerce in China (IsCham), and the Qingdao High-tech Zone Management Committee and was attended by nearly 500 representatives from more than 160 Chinese and Israeli medical enterprises, institutions, and hospitals via both online and offline channels.

Ilan Maor, president of IsCham, delivers a speech at the event via video link. [Photo/guanhai.com.cn]

"Healthcare and medicine are two important issues, especially at a time when both China and Israel are recovering from the impact of COVID-19," said Ilan Maor, president of IsCham, during his online speech.

"Over the past year, our two countries have demonstrated great resilience and advanced science and technology. This is a testament to how we can work together to create a better future," he added.

"We have customized professional training programs for Chinese medical staff, organized special seminars and professional conferences, invited Israeli experts to China, promoted exchanges between medical institutions and professionals, and introduced generic drugs and innovative medical equipment and treatment methods to China," said Evgeny Mugerman, chief executive officer of the TOP Experts Clinic Israel. 

"Shandong will continue to be a core focus of our business activities in China in the future and we plan to open a branch in Qingdao," said Mugerman.

A conference to facilitate Shandong-Israel cooperation in the medical and pharmaceutical industries is held on March 30 at the Qingdao-Israel International Business Club. [Photo/guanhai.com.cn]

Israel is an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative and has the second largest innovation center in the world after Silicon Valley in the United States.

Shandong has always attached great importance to cooperation with Israel. The two sides are cooperating extensively in agriculture, science and technology, medicine, intelligent manufacturing and more, said Shandong authorities.

Last year, despite the impact of COVID-19, Shandong's trade with Israel reached $1.16 billion, up 4.3 percent year-on-year, according to official data.