Tel Aviv University sees a future of increasingly close ties between Israel and China, and is doing something about it. On Monday the university signed an agreement with the Office of Chinese Language Council International of China to establish the "Confucius Institute," which will be a center for learning the Chinese language. The institute will open in November, and will offer non-degree study of Chinese, as well as opportunities to promote exchanges in language, education, culture and economic areas. China holds a fascination for Israelis, about 40,000 of whom visit China each year.