Since beginning operations in 2009, the Israel-China Institute's (ICI) has made great strides.

Two branches were inaugurated in Jerusalem and Jinan city (Shandong Province). Its China management team was constituted and began operating several Israel – China cooperative initiatives. ICI is in negotiation with municipal councils, research centers and universities, cultural and business interests, and individuals with passion for Israel-China relations to establish branches in provinces and cities throughout China and in Israel. ICI has partnered with several important organizations, government and statutory bodies and organizations to advance its work.

ICI's specific mission is to develop projects to enhance Israel, Middle East, Jewish world – China relations and cooperation through the cultivation of knowledge, skills, networks and policy.

Advisory board members have been invited on board on the basis of excellence, leadership in their fields – academe, diplomacy, commerce-investment– and their experience in Israel-Asia – Jewish world relations. ICI will continue to expand its advisory board to represent new sectors and experience, while developing an efficient mechanism to communicate with individual advisors, to benefit from their insight and experience and networks. Many may chose to play a more active role in the initiatives underway at ICI.

ICI has built a new and improved website www.israelchinainstitute.com including more China based news (review of the Chinese press), useful information and resources, enhanced flash and map graphics and tools for active member participation. In addition IAC has launched a series of projects, initiatives and services, and is committed to continually improve its services, together with innovative website tools to inform and interconnect the growing Israel – China community.

A Chinese version of the website is available providing information about Israel to the Chinese speaking public. We continue to expand information about Israel to the Chinese public. ICI continues to seek synergetic partners, networks and collaborators. Our mailing list has reached approximately 9000 people, including scholars, key personnel, government and non government organizations and relevant companies with China interests – spanning Israel, Asia and the world. Other social medium are being developed including Face Book, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Some of our initiatives include:

• The Annual Israel-Shandong Agriculture and Technology Forum. The agricultural relationship between Israel and China has the potential for profound synergy and deep felt relations which ICI seeks to cultivate.
  
  
• Identifying and developing strategic investment sectors for Israeli companies, know-how and technology in China.
  
  
• Regular meetings and introductions of visiting Israeli leaders, scientists and business professionals with provincial leaders.
  
  
• Delegations to and from Israel.
  
  
• Monthly Focus exploring issues relating to the relationship between or important for the two countries.
  
  
• China Country Profiles provide a quick survey of Chinese cities and how they relate to Israel, the Jewish world and ME affairs. We hope these pages can serve as a platform for research, news, contacts and community based information and engagement in and from these localities. Preparations for the Journal of Asian-Middle East Studies (JAMES). JAMES promotes and publishes scholarship and knowledge in diverse fields relating to the Middle East and Asia. Regional economics and development – including Arab nation's relationship with Asian countries - is an important component of this discipline. Submissions in this field are encouraged. In addition to business, development, politics and diplomacy, issues relating to religion, identity and subjects in the humanities are also welcome and encouraged. JAMES' articles and reports will be disseminated via ICI's newsroom and membership lists, to more effectively promote individual scholars' research findings and conclusions, and to enhance awareness of this growing regional – thematic focus. JAMES will shortly announce a call for papers and contributions.  The journal will be published online. We hope negotiations with leading journal publishers will see a print version available in the future.
  
  
• ICI Research Fellowship Program is designed to attract graduate and Ph.D. researchers to focus on areas intersecting IAC's interests, so as to cultivate a core group of scholars undertaking strategic study, compilation of material and reports. While still honorary (no stipend) in nature, IAC aims to raise funds for sponsored fellowships so as to more effectively guide research foci.
  
  
• ICI is building online platforms and identifying suitable personnel to administer a number of social and professional networks to leverage important bodies of knowledge and skills, including: a China Studies Association; an Israel-China Experts Association (ICEA); and an Association of Chinese Residents in Israel (ACRI).
  
  
• China Intern Program is geared to facilitate students and other volunteers interested in coming to China to work on a diverse range of activities. Though little funding exists to support this initiative, it is expected many graduate students consider a voluntary period in China to be valuable for their career paths.
  
  
• An Israel-China Coordinating Committee (IC3) is an important apparatus in the effective guiding of the Israel – China relationship. In meetings with foreign ministry staff in August 2008 I submitted a proposal to cooperate with government agencies in enlisting leaders from Israeli commercial, academic, cultural, professional and political sectors to comprise this forum. ICI is committed to seeing its establishment and is presently seeking a suitable administrator to coordinate its members and agenda.
  

ICI's policy for use of its information resources is liberal; quoting www.israelchinainstitute.com and the author of any given article as the source of the information, together with a link, as defined in more detail in Terms and Conditions. ICI will adopt a vigorous policy of legal recourse for infringements of its own and its member's intellectual property rights.

The Israel – China relationship is still in its infancy. There is still much to learn and many areas and subjects unexplored and unknown. Your partnership is valuable to us. We welcome your suggestions, interest and cooperation in our activities and invite you to participate in our work; share with interested colleagues and friends; email us proposals, entries, articles, or tips on suitable partners, collaborators and networks.

We look forward to fruitful collaboration with you, our readers, members and partners.

Sincerely,

Avrum Ehrlich