Xi Jinping holds talks with Polish President Duda
On the afternoon of June 24, President Xi Jinping held talks with Polish President Andrzej Duda, who was on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping pointed out that Poland was one of the first countries to recognize the People's Republic of China. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Poland. Over the past 75 years, China-Poland relations have maintained steady development. Especially since we jointly decided to upgrade China-Poland relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership eight years ago, exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries have been comprehensively expanded and deepened, and the fruits of cooperation have benefited the people of both countries. At present, changes in the world, the times, and history are unfolding in an unprecedented way. China is willing to work with Poland to adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, uphold the original intention of establishing diplomatic relations, continue traditional friendship, promote the continuous development of bilateral relations to a higher level, and inject more stability and certainty into a world full of changes and chaos.
Xi Jinping stressed that the key to the China-Poland relationship being able to weather the storm is that both sides can draw wisdom and strength from their own national historical and cultural traditions and adhere to the independent development of bilateral friendly relations. The two sides should continue to adhere to the core of China-Poland friendship of mutual respect, equality, mutually beneficial cooperation, and exchange and mutual learning, understand and support each other's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, jointly oppose the Cold War mentality and camp confrontation, safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core, and promote the construction of an equal and orderly world multipolarization and inclusive economic globalization. The two sides should make good use of mechanisms and platforms such as the China-Poland Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, strengthen strategic coordination and overall planning of cooperation in various fields, jointly build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, safeguard and promote cooperation in major projects such as the China-Europe Express, and strengthen cooperation in trade, agriculture, digital economy, green industry, clean energy and other fields. China welcomes more high-quality Polish agricultural and food products to enter the Chinese market, supports the expansion of two-way investment, and hopes that Poland will provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies. China has decided to implement a 15-day unilateral visa-free policy for Polish citizens. The two sides should vigorously promote exchanges in the fields of culture, youth, academia, and media between the two countries. China is willing to work with Poland and other countries to promote the sustainable development of the China-Central and Eastern European countries cooperation mechanism and promote the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations.
Duda said that I still remember the first state visit to China in 2015 and the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics in early 2022. This visit to China further witnessed the great vitality of China's development. I sincerely admire China's implementation of the people-centered development concept under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and the remarkable achievements it has made. President Xi Jinping's state visit to Poland in 2016 became an important milestone in the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Poland and China. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping means huge development opportunities for Poland. Cooperation with China in building the Belt and Road has effectively promoted Poland's infrastructure construction and economic development. Over the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Poland and China, the development of bilateral relations has always been based on equality and mutual respect. Poland highly appreciates China's long history and profound culture, and highly values China's philosophy in international affairs and its important contribution to world peace and development. Poland firmly adheres to the one-China principle and is willing to continue to promote cooperation in building the Belt and Road with China, deepen exchanges and cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture, infrastructure, connectivity, humanities, etc., expand cooperation in new fields such as innovation, digital economy, and new energy vehicles, and welcome more Chinese companies to invest in Poland. Poland is willing to strengthen multilateral communication and cooperation with China, promote the further development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Poland and China, and make positive contributions to promoting world peace and stability. Poland will serve as the rotating presidency of the European Union in the first half of next year. Poland is willing to play a constructive role in promoting the development of relations between the European Union and China, and continue to promote cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukrainian crisis. Xi Jinping stressed that China's position on the Ukrainian crisis is to promote peace talks and political settlement. At present, efforts should be made to avoid the expansion and intensification of the conflict, to promote the cooling of the situation, and to create conditions for peace talks. This is in the interests of the international community, including Europe. China opposes some people using the excuse of normal Sino-Russian trade to shift conflicts and smear China. China encourages and supports all efforts conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis and promotes the building of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. China is willing to continue to play a constructive role in the political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis in its own way.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in the fields of economy, trade, agriculture and other fields.
The two sides issued the "Action Plan on Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Poland."
Before the talks, Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcoming ceremony for Duda and his wife Agata in the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People.
When Duda arrived, honor guards lined up to salute. The two heads of state stepped onto the reviewing stand, the military band played the national anthems of China and Poland, and 21 gun salutes were fired in Tiananmen Square. Duda, accompanied by Xi Jinping, reviewed the Chinese People's Liberation Army Guard of Honor and watched the parade.
That evening, Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan held a welcome banquet for the Duda couple in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
