China and Israel signed an agreement on Monday to establish a Confucius Institute at the Tel Aviv University (TAU).

 

The institute, which is expected to open in November, will be the first of its kind in the Jewish nation. 

 

Jointly established by Office of Chinese Language Council International of China and TAU, the Confucius Institute is a non-profit educational organization, and will provide non-degree Chinese language study programs to Israelis. Teachers are from the TAU.

 

Addressing the signing ceremony, TAU President Itamar Rabinovich said "the Israeli public are eagerly hoping that they could have the chance to know more about the captivating Chinese culture." 

 

He said he was convinced that the establishment of the Confucius Institute at TAU will meet their mounting demand and promote the exchanges and cooperation in education, culture and economic fields between Israel and China.

 

Chinese Embassador to Israel Zhao Jun termed the institute as a new platform for the friendly exchanges between the two peoples and he believed that it can contribute to the overall development of bilateral ties of China and Israel in all fields. 

 

At the moment, three Israeli universities are providing degree of Chinese course, including the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv University and Haifa University. 

 

Every year, about 40,000 Israelis visit China, among whom more than 50 go to China to study language, culture, history and traditional medicine.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)