Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, welcomed Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan to the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem, Monday.

The visit represents the first time in 18 years that such a high-ranking Chinese official has come to Israel. Vice President Qishan arrived in Israel with a delegation of ministers and deputy ministers from approximately 13 ministries.

“Welcome to Israel. This the most important visit by a Chinese leader in the last 18 years,” said Netanyahu. “It’s a sign of our growing friendship. The fact that the Vice President of China came to Israel at my invitation for the Prime Minister’s Innovation Conference is a tremendous compliment to Israel and a reflection of the growing ties between China and Israel. And I look forward to our discussions.”

Several high-ranking Israeli ministers were in attendance at a working dinner between the two entourages. These included Economy and Industry Minister Eli Cohen, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely, National Security Council Director Meir Ben-Shabbat and Israeli Ambassador to China Zvi Hefetz and other senior officials.

The prime minister and the Chinese vice president will chair the fourth meeting of the Israel-China Innovation Conference in a G2G format at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday. Eight joint agreements are due to be signed at the conference in science and technology, life sciences, innovation, digital health and agriculture.

The innovation conference meets annually alternatively in Jerusalem and Beijing and – inter alia – advances cooperation between government officials from Israel and China, joint projects involving the private sector, joint research in science and industry, and grants scholarships for Israeli and Chinese students.

Vice President Wang Qishan placed a prayer for peace at Jerusalem’s Kotel (Western Wall) during a visit to the Old City Tuesday morning.