Chinese Ambassador Xiao Junzheng hosted the embassy's first major reception since Gaza fighting ended, signaling Beijing's commitment to deepening bilateral ties as trade reached $33 billion and expressing condolences for fallen hostage Ran Gvili.

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China’s ambassador to Israel Xiao Junzheng praises Israeli resilience and bilateral trade that reached historic $33 billion in 2025.

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Xiao emphasized that bilateral stability persisted throughout the war’s upheaval. Joint trade reached a historic high of $33 billion in 2025, maintaining China’s position as Israel’s second-largest trading partner worldwide. The ambassador specifically praised the approximately 20,000 Chinese workers who remained in Israel and contributed to development projects despite the fighting.

While China initially adopted a relatively hostile diplomatic stance when the war began, Beijing never suspended joint projects or regular airline flights. At the governmental level, Chinese officials gradually shifted toward expressing admiration for Israeli resilience – an evolution that may have culminated in the ambassador’s remarks.

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