General Zhao Keshi, member of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) and director of the Logistics Support Department under the CMC, met with a logistics delegation of the Israel Defense Forces in Beijing last week.

Zhao Keshi welcomed the delegation Tuesday and said that the friendly exchange between the Chinese people and the Jewish people goes back to ancient times, an assertion that has little mention in credible historical sources. He also noted that the two nations had suffered catastrophes together and forged a profound friendship during World War 2.

Military relations between the two countries “have been developing smoothly in recent years, as manifested by the constantly deepened contacts in various areas and frequent exchange and pragmatic cooperation in military logistics,” Gen. Zhao noted, as reported by Chinese Ministry of Defense’s news site.

He added that he hoped the exchange and cooperation in logistics between the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Israel Defense Forces would be further expanded and that this would elevate relations between the two armies in the area of logistics to a new high.

In 2014, Gen. Keshi met with Major General Kobi Barak, head of Technological and Logistics Directorate of Israeli Defense Forces.

He extended his welcome to Barak and reviewed the friendship between the Chinese and Israeli militaries. He said that in recent years, the relationship of the two armies was “developing smoothly,” as evidenced by increased cooperation and frequent exchanges.