Belt and Road Initiative boosts Chinese-Polish ties

WARSAW — With the upcoming visit to Poland of Zhang Dejiang, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the Chinese-Polish relations are to make another step towards better cooperation and mutual understanding.

The bilateral relations have made continuous progress since the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership in June 2016. Zhang's visit will provide another opportunity to promote closer cooperation between the two countries.

Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo took part in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in May. During the visit, a series of consensuses have been reached on increasing bilateral cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

In Beijing, Szydlo said the initiative is of key importance to not only Poland's, but also the world's balanced and sustainable development.

Krzysztof Senger, executive vice-president of Polish Investment and Trade Agency, has said that Poland is keenly watching the development of the Belt and Road Initiative.

This initiative can also be viewed from a wider Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region's perspective - it can serve as "the strongest stimulus" that strengthens relations with China, Senger said.

In addition, the rail cargo service between the Chinese city of Chengdu and Poland's Lodz speeds up cargo transportation and helps develop Polish cities.

In Lodz, a stop along the Chengdu-Europe railway service, the first cargo trains arrived about three-and-a-half years ago.

"During last year and a half, we've seen more economic activity and export trains are carrying Polish products back to China," Spendcont firm CEO Michal Gawin has told Xinhua.

Gawin, whose firm operates a cargo terminal in Lodz, said they observed accelerated business since last year. "This time last year, we operated approximately 15-20 trains a month. In the last half year, we've seen a more than 50 percent increase with 45-50 trains," he explained in April.

Apart from developing land connection, Polish harbors, which operate marine trade with China, also place their hopes on increased activity with China.