China highlights new chapter with Israel at embassy celebration

2026-02-06 - 21:19

The Chinese Embassy's first large-scale event since the Gaza war ended carried unmistakable diplomatic weight. Ambassador Xiao Junzheng used the Lunar New Year reception – celebrating the upcoming Year of the Fire Horse – to signal Beijing's renewed commitment to Israel, addressing the Gvili family by name and emphasizing resilience in both nations' cultural traditions. "In traditional Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes courage, speed, and hard work, and is often regarded as a sign of good fortune and success. In Jewish culture, the horse represents strength, honor, and resilience. While our cultures differ, the spirit of the horse is deeply shared by both traditions. We look forward to China–Israel relations moving ahead with new energy and opening a bright new chapter," Xiao said. The People's Republic of China's ambassador to Israel, Xiao Junzheng during the reception at the Chinese Embassy on February 4, 2026 The ambassador, who took office in November 2024 during the war's height, has consistently expressed solidarity with Israeli society throughout his tenure. Thursday's reception at the new embassy compound in Tel Aviv marked his most direct engagement yet with the human cost of the conflict. Hagai Shagrir, director of the North Asia Division at the Foreign Ministry, represented Israel at the event. "After 843 days, the final hostage, Ran Gvili, has come home to be laid to rest," Ambassador Xiao said. "I extend my deepest condolences to his family. My thoughts are with all hostage families and the people of Israel, who have endured unimaginable pain throught these long days. May peace prevail." 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 during 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 clearly reflected in the ambassador's remarks. The reception's timing and scale carried its own message. "While our cultures differ, the spirit of the horse is deeply shared by both traditions. We look forward to China–Israel relations moving ahead with new energy and opening a bright new chapter," Xiao said, perhaps signaling that Beijing considers the barrier to fully realizing bilateral potential now removed as Israel emerges victorious from the war.