Chinese envoy to Israel found dead at residence
China’s Ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, has died in his apartment in in his residence early on Sunday a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israeli media report.
Mr Du, 58, was found dead in his bed and the cause of his death has not yet been reported.The ambassador was recently transferred to Israel from the Ukraine.
He was only appointed ambassador in February having previously served as China's envoy to Ukraine. In an interview to the Makor Rishon newspaper in April, Wei said that after accepting the position of ambassador, he flew to Israel in mid-February and entered a 14-day quarantine due to the outbreak in China. At the end of March, he received his diplomatic credentials. Because of the pandemic, he did not meet with Israeli president Reuven Rivlin, as is customary.
Speaking with Makor Rishon, Wei expressed hope to strengthen the ties between Israel and China, addressing the accusations leveled at his country as being the one responsible for the outbreak of the virus.
"I assumed my post in an extraordinary time when China was fighting against the COVID-19. Immediately after my arrival on February 15, I went into the 14-day home quarantine. During which, I had not taken a single step out of my residence nor had any direct contact with my Embassy colleagues. I just want to send a message to all Israeli friends that China is a responsible, rule-abiding and trustworthy country," wei said.
Foreign Ministry Director-General Yuval Rotem spoke with Israel Dai Yuming, Deputy Ambassador to China, and expressed his condolences on the ambassador's death.
There are different voices about the Battle of China. In the beginning, some voices were condescending and cowardly. Later, when the disease spread around the world, the voices China must apologize. this is outrageous. In history, there have been many times when the causes of diseases were wrongly blamed on a specific group of people, which is disgusting and should be condemned. Sickness is the enemy of all mankind, and the world must fight it. Together, We told Makor Rishon.
Wei also addressed the matter of Chinese investments in Israel infrastructure, expressing hope for further cooperation.
The United States reportedly asked Israel to distance itself from China, to which the Chinese embassy has stated that Sino-Israeli cooperation is a victory in nature, and projects are market movements based on supply and demand.
The ambassador was married and had a son but his family is not believed to have been in the country. He was living in the Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya.
In February, before Coronavirus spread to Israel, Dai Yuming, deputy head of the Chinese Embassy in Israel, said that "China opened its doors to the Jewish people during dark times and we did not close it. I hope The door will not close for the Israeli Chinese.The Israeli Foreign Ministry recommended against a visit to China and urged all Israeli residents to leave in China after postponing all direct flights into the country.
China’s Ambassador to Israel, Du Wei, has died in his apartment in in his residence early on Sunday a suburb of Tel Aviv, Israeli media report.
Mr Du, 58, was found dead in his bed and the cause of his death has not yet been reported.The ambassador was recently transferred to Israel from the Ukraine.
He was only appointed ambassador in February having previously served as China's envoy to Ukraine. In an interview to the Makor Rishon newspaper in April, Wei said that after accepting the position of ambassador, he flew to Israel in mid-February and entered a 14-day quarantine due to the outbreak in China. At the end of March, he received his diplomatic credentials. Because of the pandemic, he did not meet with Israeli president Reuven Rivlin, as is customary.
Speaking with Makor Rishon, Wei expressed hope to strengthen the ties between Israel and China, addressing the accusations leveled at his country as being the one responsible for the outbreak of the virus.
"I assumed my post in an extraordinary time when China was fighting against the COVID-19. Immediately after my arrival on February 15, I went into the 14-day home quarantine. During which, I had not taken a single step out of my residence nor had any direct contact with my Embassy colleagues. I just want to send a message to all Israeli friends that China is a responsible, rule-abiding and trustworthy country," wei said.
Foreign Ministry Director-General Yuval Rotem spoke with Israel Dai Yuming, Deputy Ambassador to China, and expressed his condolences on the ambassador's death.
There are different voices about the Battle of China. In the beginning, some voices were condescending and cowardly. Later, when the disease spread around the world, the voices China must apologize. this is outrageous. In history, there have been many times when the causes of diseases were wrongly blamed on a specific group of people, which is disgusting and should be condemned. Sickness is the enemy of all mankind, and the world must fight it. Together, We told Makor Rishon.
Wei also addressed the matter of Chinese investments in Israel infrastructure, expressing hope for further cooperation.
The United States reportedly asked Israel to distance itself from China, to which the Chinese embassy has stated that Sino-Israeli cooperation is a victory in nature, and projects are market movements based on supply and demand.
The ambassador was married and had a son but his family is not believed to have been in the country. He was living in the Tel Aviv suburb of Herzliya.
In February, before Coronavirus spread to Israel, Dai Yuming, deputy head of the Chinese Embassy in Israel, said that "China opened its doors to the Jewish people during dark times and we did not close it. I hope The door will not close for the Israeli Chinese.The Israeli Foreign Ministry recommended against a visit to China and urged all Israeli residents to leave in China after postponing all direct flights into the country.
