However, Sharon, dominated by troublesome regional conflicts, failed to manage the tour in2005. In 2006, he was stricken by the devastating stroke, which kept him in a coma for eight years until he passed away on Saturday.

In his only official visit to China, in 1997 as Israel's minister of national infrastructure, Sharon, son of Russian immigrant parents, helped Chinese farmers do farm work and told the interpreter to tell them, "I'm also a farmer."

He also used his hands to stir the cow feed and tasted it, saying it was just the same as that at home, according to Tang Shizeng, a Xinhua photographer who was at the site.

Former Chinese ambassador to Israel Pan Zhanlin recalled in an article that when he visited Sharon at the end of his term as ambassador, Sharon talked a lot about China and told Pan he used to believe the Jewish civilization was unmatched, until he learned more about China's history.

About the broadcaster:

Lance Crayon is a videographer and editor with China Daily. Since living in Beijing he has worked for China Radio International (CRI) and Global Times. Before moving to China he worked in the film industry in Los Angeles as a talent agent and producer. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Arlington.

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