The government of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China and the Israeli Embassy in China jointly held a business seminar in Beijing Wednesday evening. 

"Heilongjiang is rich in natural resources, energy, skilled workers, well equipped state-owned enterprises and a good environment for foreign investment," Heilongjiang Governor Zhang Zuoji said, welcoming Israeli entrepreneurs to find partners in the province.

Thousands of Jews were saved in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang, during World War Two, said Yehoyada Haim, Israeli ambassador to China, noting that Israel and Heilongjiang share long-term friendship and cooperation.

"We are gathering enterprises like boys and girls here tonight and I hope there would be many weddings after the meeting," the ambassador said with a smile.

Representatives from over 40 enterprises in Heilongjiang and nearly 30 companies from Israel, mostly in agricultural and high-tech sectors, attended the seminar. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2004)