| President Hu Jintao Holds Talks with his Polish Counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski |
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| 2004-11-28 16:02 |
On the afternoon of June 8, 2004, President Hu Jintao held talks with Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski. The two sides exchanged views and reached broad consensus on the further enhancement of China-Poland friendly cooperation and other issues of common interest.
Situated in the center of Warsaw, the Presidential Palace of Poland, an antique building of the late 18th century, looked very fresh against the blue sky after a shower. Kwasniewski held a grand welcoming ceremony for President Hu at the square before the Presidential Palace. The two heads of state reviewed the Guards of Honor of the three services of the Polish Army in the national anthem of China and Poland played by the military band.
During the following talks, Kwasniewski first extended a warm welcome to President Hu for his visit to Poland. He said this year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Poland and China. President Hu's visit is of great historical significance as he is the first Chinese head of state to visit Poland. Both countries are in a critical period of development. Poland has joined in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) one after another while reform and opening up have brought about tremendous changes to China and China is enjoying an increasingly important position in international affairs. China has become one of the most important partners for Poland whether in political or economic spheres. This visit is expected to help strengthen and expand the friendly cooperation between the two countries.
Hu made positive remarks on the progress achieved in recent years in China-Poland relations and pointed out that mutual political trust is being strengthened and mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic area is productive with continuously expanded exchanges in such areas as culture, education, science, technology and military affairs and sound communication and consultations in international affairs. He said to Kwasniewski that Poland is an influential country in Europe and is playing an increasingly significant role in regional and international affairs. Developing China-Poland friendly cooperative relations is in the interest of the both peoples and will also be conducive to peace and development of the region and the world as a whole. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and China hopes that the two sides will take this opportunity to continuously deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields and develop friendly cooperative partnership so as to push for bilateral ties to a new level. To this end, the Chinese side suggested the following proposals. First, the two sides should foster closer bilateral political relations, continue top-level exchanges and contact in various forms, strengthen dialogue and exchanges between the governments and parties of the two countries, and broaden consultations and coordination at various levels. Second, the two sides should fully tap economic and trade potentials, promote mutual investment in a down-to-earth manner, actively explore new forms and approaches of economic and trade cooperation and give full play to economic regulators' role in coordination. Third, the two sides should expand exchanges in humanities, science, technology and other areas. The Memorandum of Understanding on Chinese Tourists Traveling to EU countries signed between China and the EU applies to Poland which is now a member of the entity, and the prospect for bilateral cooperation is bright in this area. Fourth, facing the complex and changeable international situations, the two sides should enhance coordination and safeguard common interests. Kwasniewski indicated his full agreement with Hu Jintao's proposals, noting that Poland-China friendly relations would surely enter a new stage of development through concerted efforts by the two sides.
Following the talks, the two heads of state signed the Joint Statement between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Poland. In the statement, the two sides confirmed the broad consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and declared the establishment of China-Poland friendly cooperative partnership, noting that the two sides would make joint efforts to further promote traditional friendly relations between the two countries, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields. Poland reaffirmed in the statement that it would adhere to the one-China policy, oppose any act that aims to change Taiwan's status and may lead to tension across the Taiwan Straits, and supports China's peaceful reunification. The two heads of state attended the signing ceremony of several documents on bilateral cooperation such as the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Poland, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Poland, the Agreement on Educational Cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Poland and the Framework Agreement on Cooperation in Copper-Mine Development between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Poland.
The two heads of state also co-hosted a press conference, where they highly commented the establishment of friendly cooperative partnership between the two countries and indicated the two sides would actively promote deepened bilateral exchanges and cooperation in all areas to bring about more tangible benefits so as to the two peoples and enhance peace and development of the region and the world as a whole.
Later in the evening, Kwasniewski held a state banquet for Hu Jintao's visit. Hu's wife Liu Yongqing, State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan, Poland's Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament Józef Oleksy, Speaker of the Senate Longin Pastusiak and representatives from various social sectors attended the banquet.
(Information from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC)
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Bilateral Visits