At the invitation of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Ehud Olmert, Israel's prime minister, will pay a formal visit to China on January 9-11.

The visit is to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Israel, which took place on January 24, 1992. Prime Minister Olmert will be the first foreign leader to visit China in 2007.

According to an official with the Press and Information Section of Israel's Embassy in China, Olmert will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen. They will talk about ways to promote bilateral relations, and discuss regional and international affairs of concern to both countries, such as the situation in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear issue. Olmert and Wen will also witness the signing of bilateral agreements.

During his visit, the Israeli prime minister will also meet with Chinese entrepreneurs in order to boost bilateral trade and economic ties. He will also attend the inauguration of a China-Israel dairy technological cooperation center. In addition, Olmert will visit several competition venues for the 2008 Olympic Games, which are still under construction.

A concert marking the 15th anniversary of China-Israel diplomatic relations will be held on January 11. Famous artists and singers from both countries will perform together on stage.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have developed ties in different fields. According to Israeli statistics, the bilateral trade volume reached $2.6 billion in 2005, and is expected to top $3 billion in 2006.

Olmert is the third Israeli prime minister to visit China, but the first in nine years. His last visit was in June 2004, when he served as vice prime minister.

Olmert was born to a Jewish family that had lived in China for decades, and thus has a special relationship with the country. In 1917, his grandfather moved to Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. The prime minister's father was born and educated in the city, and lived there until he moved to Israel in 1932.

(Source: Press and Information Section, Embassy of Israel to China)