President Komorowski urges China to invest in Poland

photo - PAP/Jacek Turczyk

Komorowski's visit is the first by a Polish president to China in 14 years and aims to increase Chinese investment and trade with Poland.

Trade between the two countries amounted to 18 billion dollars (51 billion zloty) in 2010, although only only 1.6 billion dollars (4.5 billion zloty) consisted of Polish exports to China.

“Just as the EU is the first partner for China, so Poland is the sixth biggest economy among the 27 [EU] countries,” Komorowski said at an investment forum in Shanghai co-organised by the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency (PAIiIZ) and the China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT).

“Poland should be seen as a gateway to the 500-million-strong European market,” he continued.

'“Secondly, Poland is a good brand when it comes to investments from abroad,” he said.

The Polish president went on to say that Poland is “a leader in economic growth in Europe, just as China is in the [Asian] region,” noting that development had continued steadily in Poland over the last 20 years.

Komorowski stressed that Poland was “stable” and “tried and tested” against the backdrop of financial crisis in Europe.

Finally, he encouraged China to invest in Polish treasury bonds, noting the substantial investment by foreigners in this field in recent months.

Komorowski has now flown to Beijing, and on Tuesday he will meet with President Hu Jintao as well as take part in an economic forum. (nh/pg)

Source: PAP