Defense Minister Ehud Barak met with the Chinese military’s chief of staff, General Chen Bingde Sunday. The meeting lasted over an hour and its atmosphere was described as “especially jovial and friendly.”

 

Barak and Chen discussed issues of mutual interest for China and Israel and bilateral ties between the Chinese Army and the Israel Defense Force.

 

The Defense Minister described the security challenges in the Middle East in view of the latest regional developments.

Barak stressed before Chen the overriding need to deny Iran the ability to equip itself with nuclear military ability, which will destabilize the Middle East, besides creating a severe threat toward Israel.

 

Chen and Barak also discussed means of dealing effectively with terror in its various forms. Chen said that the visit was of tremendous importance for China and for relations between the countries.

 

Last year, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer and Minister Moshe Ya'alon flew to China to try and convince the Chinese to support sanctions agaiunst Iran. Iran and Russia have been the main obstacles to sanctions in the United Nations and are also opposed to steps against Syria.