The year that has elapsed since the celebration of Israel's 60th Independence Day has seen extreme challenges for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the region in addition to tremendous regional success and achievements.

In November 2008, Jewish communities throughout Asia and the world stood together watching the tragedy in Mumbai unfold. These images are still fresh in our minds and they offered the world a glimpse of the type of terror Israel is forced to defend against

Israeli Foreign Ministers then found themselves defending Israel's reputation across the region and helping to secure the safety of the Jewish and Israeli community as the most recent conflict in the Middle East erupted.

The world was then struck by the current financial crisis which has had far-reaching consequences on a number of sectors as diverse as diamonds and other luxury products to the world of finance and banking to the availability of funds for humanitarian aid.

Despite the tragedy and the challenges, on the eve of Israel's 61st Independence Day there is much to celebrate. 2009 has seen the opening of a new Israeli Consulate in Guangzhou. The new mission, headed by Consul General Avi Nir, covers the Pearl River Delta and the provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi and Fujian, and will also include a representative of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recognises the great potential for growth of an even stronger tie between Israel and China through activity in this region. In China, Israel already boasts an Embassy in Beijing and Consulates in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Also a testimony to the strengthening of Israeli ties to the region was the recent announcement by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister, Vu Dung, of the opening of a Vietnamese embassy in Israel. Prior to this, relations in Israel had been maintained by the Vietnamese embassy in Cairo.

In Vietnam, Israel is represented by Ambassador Ephraim Ben-Matityau in Hanoi. As reported by the Deputy Chief of Mission, Nati Brooks, for the last six years the Vietnamese mission has kept to a tradition of using the budget for the Independence Day celebrations for humanitarian purposes instead of a gala.

This year, the budget supported an Israeli eye mission in the provinces of Ninh Binh and Nghe An. The delegation included twelve health care professionals, including five eye surgeons, who fl ew in from Israel. The delegation was arranged in Israel by "Eye from Zion" and was supported by MASHAV. During the ten day mission, the Israeli doctors together with Vietnamese doctors performed 190 operations.

In China as in other parts of the region, successes were also signifi cant. Not surprisingly, Israeli Foreign Ministry Representatives throughout China have been extremely busy with far too many achievements to count. In Beijing, Israel is represented by Ambassador Amos Nadai who received the Israeli athletic delegations for the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry representative in Shanghai is Consul General Jackie Eldan. The Shanghai mission has been active in promotion of the Shanghai Jews Database and the protection of the historical district of Hongkou. Consul General Eldan also recently revealed the design for the Israeli pavilion for the much anticipated Shanghai Expo 2010.

In Hong Kong, Consul General Amikam Levy has actively promoted Israeli industry trade in Hong Kong and has sought out opportunities in new industries for Israeli businesses. A number of major delegations, shows and expositions have seen increased levels of Israeli  participation and he is optimistic about opportunities for further growth of the economic relationship between Hong Kong and Israel even in face of the economic crisis.

The Hong Kong Independence Day reception included approximately five hundred guests including the Guest of Honour: The Honourable Henry Tang, the Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government as well as a number of other key Hong Kong officials.

In Myanmar, Ambassador Yaron Mayer’s mission was actively involved in numerous humanitarian aid projects in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. Looking to the future, a reception on the occasion of the 61st Anniversary of Independence Day was held on 28 April 2009 at the Inya Lake Hotel, Yangon and, in honour of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Israel and Myanmar, a Historic Photo Exhibition was created and launched at the event.

In Singapore, Ambassador Ilan Ben-Dov celebrated Israeli Independence with over 400 guests that included the Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ministry of Education of Singapore and as well as the Chief of Defence Force- Lt Gen Desmond Kuek Bak Chye as well as with other key ministry of foreign affairs offi cials from international missions.

As reported by Deputy Chief of Mission of Singapore, Idit Abu, the last year has been extremely productive with five Singaporean state visits to Israel, including the Ministers for Education and Finance and the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's office. Singapore also hosted two Israeli photo exhibitions this year, "Tel Aviv- Stills of the Non-stop City" and "Save a Child's Heart". The Singapore mission is also gearing up for their annual fi lm festival and they are also preparing to receive visits from Miki Gaverielov and Naomi Ragen who will each be in Singapore for participation in upcoming key cultural events.

In Seoul, Korea, Ambassador Yigal Caspi hosted an Independence Day that included three hundred and fifty guests including numerous high ranking Korean ministry representatives. The South Korea mission has been active promoting cultural, scientific, technological, and trade relationships between Israel and Korea.

Israel and India have a long history of diplomatic relations. Israel has had a Consulate in Mumbai operating since 1953.

Following the establishment of full diplomatic relations, an Israel Embassy opened in New Delhi in 1992 and the Consulate in Mumbai was given the title of Consulate-General. Mr. Mark Sofer serves as the Ambassador of Israel to India, located in New Delhi, and the Non-Resident Ambassador of Sri Lanka. Ortal Elbaz is the Consul General in Mumbai.

This past year, the Embassy of Israel in New Delhi, in its endeavour to introduce Israel to a larger Indian population, launched its brand new website and publications in two of the most popular Indian languages - Hindi and Urdu. Also in an effort to reach out to more people, the Israel Consulate in Mumbai launched its Facebook page.

Representatives from Israel's leading emergency and prehospital care provider, Magen David Adom, paid a working visit to New Delhi in July 2008. Both the Embassy and the Consulate also hosted a number of prominent artists including Ido Tadmor, Israel's Ambassador of Dance, and Ruth Kanner from the Department of Theater and Arts of Tel Aviv University. The MFA mission in Thailand is headed by Ambassador Yael Rubinstein in Bangkok.

This mission, operating in the midst of political unrest in Thailand, has been extremely active. For their 61st Annual Israel Independence Day Festival, they hosted bout 600 guests including ambassadors, ministers, diplomats, members of the Thai royal family and celebrities.

They have also assisted in coordinating a large number of major cultural events including visits by Idan Cohen, Zubin Mehta, Tal Kravitz, Esta and Tom Zalmanov.

Regionally, the MFAs is coordinated by the Division for Asia and the Pacifi c which includes Southeast Asia (India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Pakistan), Northeast Asia (China, Japan, Mongolia, and South Korea) and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific islands).

Daily, these representatives work towards promoting technical cooperation with Israel in the areas of scientific R&D, rural development, agriculture and education. They play an important role in strengthening relations with the developing countries of the region.

For members of the Israeli MFA in Asia and the Pacific, the fostering of additional ties and friendships is their mission. The local representatives continue to serve as a link for Israelis living abroad, a bridge for Israel and the Diaspora communities and as the face of Israel overseas. While there will always be challenges,many more new opportunities lie ahead.

_{(Issue May 2009)}