Chinese and Israeli Students Find Common Ground at TAU

When Chinese students participating in Tel Aviv University’s Research Excellence Program for Asia (RExPA) met Israeli students studying Chinese and East Asian studies, the gathering was expected to be relatively brief. Several hours after its scheduled end, they were still talking.

They discussed their studies, languages, food, politics and everyday life in China and Israel. By the end of the meeting, many had exchanged contact details and made plans to stay in touch.

“Though we met for the first time, we talked like old friends.” — Yali Siman Tov, a TAU student of political science and East Asian studies.

From Language Practice to Cultural Exchange

Yali met Cai Yurui, who also goes by the Hebrew name Ori, at the gathering. Their conversation ranged from their academic interests to Beijing, where Yurui is from, and Tsinghua University, where Yali hopes to study.

“We talked about our majors and where we come from,” Yali said. “I talked to Ori about the university I want to go to in Beijing, Tsinghua University. We shared our thoughts.” 

Yali plans to spend time in China, especially in Nanjing and Yunnan. The gathering also connected her with a student from Yunnan who could offer practical advice. “We met a student here from Yunnan,” she said. “She gave me some tips.”

For Yurui, Hebrew is central to her interest in Israel:

“I like the Hebrew language. I love the Hebrew characters, the spelling and the pronunciation.” — Cai Yurui, RExPA–2026 participant

Her interest in Hebrew has also led her to explore Jewish philosophy and culture, while Yali’s own studies have deepened her interest in China.

Seeing the world from another perspective

RExPA student Shao Yifan studies political science and international relations. During her eight weeks at TAU, she met students from around the world.

“It’s an open-minded environment, and I can really learn a lot from different people.” — Shao Yifan, RExPA–2026 participant

For students in China considering a similar experience, Shao emphasized the value of leaving familiar surroundings. She described the program as “quite a precious opportunity” to try new things, meet different people and move beyond familiar boundaries.

Her conversation partner, Idan Ziv, studies South Asian studies and economics at TAU. He is particularly interested in the contrasts and points of connection between Chinese and Israeli ways of thinking.

“I can feel at home and comfortable with the people I’m with, but get new perspectives on a lot of things,” he said. 

Shao found another point of common ground in the two societies’ long histories and their shared “hope for a better future.” Her strongest takeaway from the summer was more personal. “They helped me to see a different, diverse and colorful world,” she said of the people she met at TAU. “I want to bring these cherished memories along with me.”

Research beyond the books

Before joining RExPA, Zhao Boxu had studied Israeli society largely from China. Living and conducting research in Israel gave him an opportunity to engage with it directly.

After three years of studying Hebrew, his interests had expanded from language to contemporary Israeli society and politics. Fieldwork at TAU took that research outside the classroom.

Working with his TAU supervisor, Prof. Uriya Shavit, on research into Haredi society, Boxu visited communities where he could use his Hebrew and engage directly with the people and places he was studying. 

“I can read the posters and hear the people talking on the street,” he said. Fieldwork allowed him to “really step into it,” rather than studying the community only through books. During a visit to a yeshiva, a conversation about Shanghai created an unexpected link between Boxu’s research in Israel and his home country.

“The person who showed me around the yeshiva said that during the Second World War, Shanghai people helped Jews a lot, and he was really thankful. It inspired me a lot to study this part of the relations between Israel and China.” — Zhao Boxu, RExPA–2026 participant.

The experience has also led Boxu to consider returning to TAU for a master’s degree focused on Haredi society, an area he described as receiving little academic attention in China.

Connections beyond campus

The gathering concluded with a presentation from the Israel Jiangsu Center, the Israeli office of the China Israel Changzhou Innovation Park (CICP). The presentation highlighted links between the Israeli and Chinese business and innovation ecosystems, including support for Israeli companies entering the Chinese market and pathways for Chinese students interested in entrepreneurship or careers with Israeli companies.

For Konstantin Platonov, the Lowy International School’s Asia Engagement Director and head of RExPA, the informal gathering formed part of a wider effort to connect participants with TAU and Israeli society: “When RExPA launched in 2023, our goal was to create an exceptional experience for outstanding students from Asia’s leading universities, deepen their understanding of Israel and encourage them to return to TAU for a full degree."

In its third year, the RExPA 2026 experience included a leadership lunch with TAU Vice President Prof. Milette Shamir, a Shabbat dinner with JLIC, a tour of ANU Museum with the Koret Center and this informal gathering with Israeli students. I can say with confidence that a new cohort of friends of Israel was born at TAU this summer.”

About RExPA

Tel Aviv University’s Research Excellence Program for Asia (RExPA) is an eight-week summer program for outstanding students from select TAU partner institutions in Asia.

Participants join research projects across STEM, arts, humanities and social sciences under the guidance of TAU faculty. The program also includes leadership sessions and opportunities to connect with Israeli and international students and early-career researchers.