[China and Poland]
In 2013, the strategic partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Poland grew further with fruitful cooperation across the board.
The leaders of the two countries maintained close contact. In November, Premier Li Keqiang met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk who was attending the Meeting of Heads of Government of China and Central and Eastern European Countries in Bucharest, Romania. They had an in-depth discussion on promoting China-Poland strategic partnership and practical cooperation. From 3 to 9 June, Marshal of the Sejm of Poland Ewa Kopacz visited China. NPC Chairman Zhang Dejiang had talks with him; Vice President Li Yuanchao and Vice CPPCC Chairman and Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Wang Jiarui met with him. From 16 to 21 December, Marshal of the Senate Bogdan Borusewicz visited China, and NPC Chairman Zhang Dejiang and CPPCC Chairman Yu Zhengsheng met with him. In addition, Air Force General Xu Qiliang, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission, had a stopover in Poland and met with Minister of National Defense of Poland Tomasz Siemoniak.
The foreign ministries of the two countries maintained sound cooperation. In September, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on the sidelines of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly. In the same month, the two foreign ministries held political consultation at the director-general level.
There were increasing exchanges and cooperation between the two governments and political parties. Visits to Poland were paid by Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission Xie Zhenhua, Vice Minister of Agriculture Zhang Taolin, Deputy Administrator of the State Administration of Taxation Song Lan, Deputy Director of the State Administration of Work Safety Sun Huashan, Vice Minister of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine Wei Chuanzhong, Vice Administrator of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television Yan Xiaohong, Vice Minister of the State Internet Information Office Li Wufeng, etc. On the Polish side, Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak, Minister of Administration and Digitalization Michal Boni, Secretary of State in the Chancellery of the President Olgierd Dziekonski, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Economy Ilona Antoniszyn-Klik, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Regional Development Marcin Kubiak, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Tadeusz Nalewajk, Undersecretary of State of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education Daria Lipinska-Nalecz, former Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak, former Marshal of the Senate Longin Pastusiak, Secretary of the Supreme Executive Committee of the Polish People's Party Dariusz Klimczak, General Secretary of the Democratic Left Alliance Krzysztof Gawkowski and other officials visited or attended meetings in China.
Bilateral economic and trade cooperation grew rapidly. Poland continued to be the largest trading partner of China in Central and Eastern Europe. In November, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan traveled to Poland for the 16th meeting of the China-Poland Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation. Twoway trade registered a new high. Xiangyang Automobile Bearing Company of Hubei Province bought 89.15% of the equities of KFLT Bearings, Poland with RMB200 million. PEIXIN International Group of Fujian Province became the first Chinese company listed in Poland.
Cultural, people-to-people and local exchanges became more vibrant. The second Polish Culture Festival was successfully held in Beijing. The first China-Poland Regional Forum was held in Gdansk, Poland. There were frequent exchanges between the two countries at the provincial and municipal levels as well. By 2013, the two countries had established 22 pairs of sister provinces or cities.
Editor: Han Shuang
