China, Israel to begin talks on free trade agreement as ties deepen

China and Israel agreed on Tuesday to start long-awaited negotiations on a free trade agreement.

The consensus came during talks in Jerusalem between Vice-Premier Liu Yandong and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

While addressing the second meeting of the China-Israel Joint Committee on Innovation Cooperation after the talks, Netanyahu said, "This (the consensus on starting FTA talks) is a momentous development and we are ready to do so right away."