Co-hosted by CPAFFC, Lodzkie Regional Government of Poland and Polish Ministry of Development and Infrastructure, the 3rd Poland-China Regional Forum was held successfully in Lodz City of Poland on June 28, 29. Nearly 600 representatives attended the Forum, including Chinese government officials, scholars and entrepreneurs from Sichuan, Chongqing, Hebei, Henan, Shanghai, Liaoning, Jilin, Guangdong, Guangxi, etc., as well as officials of Polish local governments.
Present at the Forum were Mr. Grzegorz Schetyna, Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Song Jingwu, Vice President of CPAFFC, Mr. Olgierd Dziekoński, Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President of Poland, Mr. Xu Jian, Ambassador of China to Poland, Mr. Tadeusz Chomicki, Ambassador of Poland to China, Mr. S?awomir Majman, President of the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, and Polish Vice Ministers of Science and Higher Education, of Economy and of Development and Infrastructure, as well as representatives from Polish local governments. A series of cooperation agreements were signed between Chinese and Polish local governments and enterprises regarding trade, investment, culture and education.
Polish Foreign Minister Mr. Grzegorz Schetyna spoke at the opening ceremony that during his fruitful trip to China recently, he discussed the China-Poland regional and provincial cooperation with Chinese Foreign Minister, and both agreed on the vast potential within. He believes that the railway from Lodz to Chengdu connects not only the two cities, but also the two counties and two cultures. Polish government supports enterprises to participate in the “One Belt and One Road” initiative advocated by the Chinese government, and hopes to enhance the cooperation with China.
Vice President Mr. Song Jingwu said that with the development of China-Poland strategic partnership, regional exchanges between the two countries are becoming more frequent with each passing day. Regional cooperation plays an important part in the comprehensive development of relations between China and other countries. The “One Belt and One Road” initiative requires the Chinese and Polish governments to actively participate and cooperate, which in turn will expand the scope of region cooperation between the two countries. Fast, steady and efficient, regional cooperation provides us with a convenient, smooth and effective way for cooperation. We shall strive for a complementary win-win situation, improve local cultural exchanges while build together the silk road economic belt, and bring closer the people of the two countries. The two governments shall seize the historic opportunity of “One Belt and One Road” initiative, give full play to regional cooperation, and carry out cooperation with mutual benefit and win-win result in policy communication, economic and trade flow, infrastructure connection, capital financing and people-to-people friendship. With the outcome of pragmatic cooperation, benefits will be shared by the people of two countries.
Ambassador Mr. Xu Jian expressed in his speech that many successful cooperative projects between China and Poland were initiated and promoted on the local level. So far, over 50 pairs of sister cities have been established or intended to be established. He said that Poland spearheaded in the construction of “One Belt and One Road” and was the only central-eastern European country among the 57 initiative countries of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. He hopes that the regional cooperation between the two countries can take the opportunity to realize their development strategies and requirements, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win result.
Participants discussed issues including local authorities functioning mechanisms in Poland and China, “One Belt and One Road” initiative as an opportunity for the central-eastern European regions, smart city and smart region and urban strategic dialogue, regions in business, tourism and education exchange promotion.
During the Forum, regional cooperation agreements were signed between the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Henan Province, Lodz and Chengdu, Koluszki and Dujiangyan, Cz?stochowa University of Technology and Jianzhu University in Shenyang, Poland-Asia Research Center and Shanghai University of International Business & Economics.
