Wu Xinming, acting mayor of Nantong, meets with Edward Shapira, consul general of Israel in Shanghai, on Dec 13. [Photo/ntfabu.com]

Edward Shapira, consul general of Israel in Shanghai, said he expects to see an expansion of cooperation with Nantong in technological innovation and other fields as 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel, local media reported on Dec 14.

Shapira made the remarks during a meeting with Wu Xinming, the acting mayor of Nantong, East China's Jiangsu province on Dec 13.

Shapira said that he has been impressed by Nantong's infrastructure, including art museums and theaters, as well as the local government's focus on technology and innovation. He also expressed his gratitude for the support that Nantong authorities have provided for the economic and trade exchanges between Nantong and Israel.

Shapira added that there are currently more than 3,000 construction workers from Nantong working in Israel.

Wu welcomed Shapira's visit and briefed him on the economic and social development of Nantong.

Wu said that in recent years, Nantong has experienced rapid economic and social development as it has seized the opportunities brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative, Yangtze River Economic Belt, and Yangtze River Delta Integration.

Wu noted that Nantong and Israel have close economic and trade ties, especially in the field of construction engineering. He also thanked the Israeli government for caring for Nantong residents.

Wu said that Nantong will enhance its cooperation with Israel in electronic information, new material, biological medicine, equipment manufacturing, marine engineering, and maritime economy and explore the construction of Israel-Nantong Innovation Industrial Park.

Compared with other countries, Israel has the largest number of projects by Nantong companies and construction workers from Nantong. In the first 10 months of the year, the foreign trade value between Nantong and Israel totaled 980 million yuan ($153.99 million).