History 'cannot be forgotten'

While visiting a museum dedicated to the victims of Nazi genocide on Thursday, Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said that history should never be forgotten or repeated.

"History cannot be forgotten," Liu said during her visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. "Nor should it be altered or repeated."

She said both the Chinese and Jewish people were victims in World War II, and they supported each other and fought fascism shoulder to shoulder.

Exhibits include the story of He Fengshan, a Chinese diplomat who risked his life to save thousands of Jewish people during the war.

"This is a precious record of the friendship between the Chinese and Jewish people," Liu said.

Liu presented the museum with a set of sculptures in remembrance of the Chinese victims killed by Japanese troops during the Nanjing Massacre in 1937.

She said China and Israel should enhance mutual exchanges and cooperation so that people all over the world have a better understanding of the dark history of that era.

"We should learn from history and work together to maintain world peace," Liu said.

Also on Thursday, China's State-owned Bright Food Group purchased a controlling stake in dairy firm Tnuva - Israel's largest food maker. The move reflects a broader surge in Chinese investment in an economy largely tethered to Western markets.

Israeli Economy Ministry chief scientist Avi Hasson said China was second last year after the United States in terms of joint projects between Israel and foreign firms backed by his office, which funds high-tech startups and facilitates business abroad.

"In 2014, I think China will be number one," Hasson said. "Three years ago they were at zero."

Earlier this week, Tel Aviv University and Tsinghua University of Beijing launched a $300 million joint center for innovative research and education. Liu attended the event.

"China has full confidence in the prospects for our relations," Liu told a Tel Aviv conference that attracted more than 350 delegates from China. "We believe we have a lot to learn from Israel, which is well-known for its innovation."

Xinhua-Reuters

(China Daily 05/24/2014 page8)