Outgoing Israeli representative to Taiwan Raphael Gamzou bid farewell to his friends in Taiwan at a packed reception in Taipei Monday and was honored with a friendship medal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister Timothy Yang conferred the prestigious Friendship Medal of Diplomacy on Gamzou, in recognition of the Israeli diplomat's contribution to strengthening the friendship between Taiwan and Israel. In thanking Gamzou for his work in Taiwan over the last four years, Yang noted that Israel and Taiwan forged six agreements, including a double taxation avoidance agreement and a customs cooperation accord. Two other pacts are currently under discussion between the two sides, he said. In response, Gamzou said he indeed has made efforts to cement the links between Taiwan and Israel. The two societies share common values of freedom and democracy and they have both achieved much in the area of high technology development, he said. These efforts, however, do not run counter to Israel's 'one-China policy,' he said. Israel has formal diplomatic relations with China, but not with Taiwan, and recognizes Beijing's claim that it is the sole legitimate government of the whole of China. In his farewell speech, Gamzou thanked his wife Michal for what he said was her selfless support over the years. He also expressed appreciation to his driver and bodyguard Liu Wei-cheng, saying Liu had chauffeured him to every corner of the island to satisfy his curiosity and sense of wonder about Taiwan. 'Sometimes I spent more time with Liu than with my wife, ' he said. The guests at the farewell party for Gamzou and his wife were from a broad spectrum and included Finance Minister Lee Sush-der, singer Yin Cheng-yang, and members of the charity Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation. Lee Yi-huei, a volunteer with Tzu Chi, said Gamzou contacted the foundation not long after he was assigned to Taiwan and sought to become a volunteer in Taiwan's largest philanthropic organization. Whenever he had time, Gamzou would help clean the environs at the Chien Guo Holiday Flower Market in downtown Taipei, Lee said. 'This foreigner indeed loves Taiwan,' Lee quoted a peddler at the market as saying about Gamzou. Before his assignment to Taiwan four years ago, Gamzou, 56, served as a spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Italy and as the Israeli consul for cultural affairs at the United Nations in the United States. He is expected to take up a new post soon after he returns to Israel. 