Israel holds high-level tech summit with China, seeks to avoid U.S. backlash

• During Monday's meetings, which included representatives of several government ministries on both sides, Israel and China agree to a three-year plan for cooperation on the economy, science, research and development, and technology.
• Many of these issues are at the center of the Biden administration's concerns. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have expressed concern in particular over Chinese investments in Israeli infrastructure projects.

Behind the scenes: The Israeli Foreign Ministry notified the State Department of the gathering in advance “at a senior working level" and the U.S. didn't raise any concerns, an Israeli official told Axios.

• Both Israeli officials stressed they were cognizant of U.S. concerns and wanted to proceed with maximum transparency. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Flashback: On Dec. 14, Israeli and U.S. teams led by the deputy national security advisers from both sides held wide-ranging talks on China policy. A week later, national security adviser Jake Sullivan raised some of the same issues with Lapid and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett while visiting Israel.

Go deeper: Biden administration presses Israel on Chinese investments