The World Jewish Congress on Monday hosted a luncheon in London in honor of Qiu Yuanping, the Chinese minister in charge of Overseas Chinese Affairs.
Robert Singer, the WJC's CEO, headed the WJC's delegation. Also in attendance were the head of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, WJC Vice-President Vivian Wineman, the Board's CEO, Gillian Merron, and a number of other Jewish leaders. The gathering in London followed last year's meeting between Qiu and Singer in Beijing.
Minister Qiu, who is also a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party, stressed that the Jewish and the Chinese peoples had lived in friendship for generations, and there was strong political, economic, cultural cooperation. The Chinese people, including overseas Chinese had a good feeling towards Jews.
The WJC has been developing relations with China since 1991 and was instrumental in paving the way for the establishment of full diplomatic relations between Israel and the People's Republic of China in 1992.
The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the WJC are in discussions to increase ties between the Jewish Diaspora and the Chinese living overseas. "China is one of the top players in international affairs, and it is in the best interests of world Jewry that we forge even closer relations with Beijing," declared Robert Singer.
