Further development of the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Poland accords with the wishes and interests of the two countries, visiting Chinese State Councilor Wu Yi said in Warsaw on Monday.
The Chinese state councilor, arriving here on Monday morning, made these remarks during her meeting with Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller.
Wu emphasized that China attaches great importance to the relationship with Poland, which plays an important role in Central and Eastern Europe, and her visit was aimed at promoting bilateral relations, especially economic cooperation and trade.
She noted that bilateral trade has been increasing with the efforts of both sides and registered an all-time high last year. Although imbalance still exists in bilateral trade, the Chinese government is taking measures to increase imports from Poland to narrow the gap.
Agreeing with Wu's comments on the bilateral relationship between Poland and China, Miller emphasized that it is in both countries' fundamental interests and common wishes to further promote the traditional friendly relationship.
He reiterated his government's adherence to the "one-China" policy and promised that Poland will never have any official contact with the Taiwan authority.
During a separate meeting with Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure Marek Pol, Wu said Poland is China's biggest trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe.
The state councilor, who visited Poland at the invitation of Pol, said the economic cooperation between China and Poland has big potential and both governments should provide enterprises with facilities to promote direct contacts and cooperation.
Pol said Poland has witnessed a rapid economic growth in recent years in a rapid process of building up the market economy and is expected to enter the European Union in 2004.
Speaking highly of China's economic achievement, Pol said both Poland and China have accumulated a wealth of experience in the process of economic development and should learn from each other.
He also pointed out that China's entry into the World Trade Organization will strengthen its economic power and provide new opportunities for economic cooperation between Poland and China.
Besides cooperation in traditional fields, such as coal equipment and transportation, Poland and China should expand cooperation to high technology, environment protection, automobile manufacturing, aviation and other areas, said the deputy prime minister.
He mentioned that the Polish government will encourage Polish enterprises to invest in China and take part in China's campaign to develop the vast western region.
After the meeting, Wu and Pol attended the signing ceremony of three bilateral economic agreements. These were the importation of1,200 cars from Poland, the long-term purchase and sale of electrolytic copper and importing environment protection equipment from Poland with loans provided by the Polish government on favorable terms.
Poland is the second leg of Wu's tour to Central and Eastern Europe. She will then visit Albania and Bulgaria.
(Xinhua News Agency July 10, 2002)
