Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great joy that Polish business is once again present at the China–Central and Eastern Europe Expo. This is an important gathering of partners, facilitators, and friends of strong China–CEEC relations. Last year, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Poland and China. This year, during Poland’s Presidency of the EU, we mark the 50th anniversary of China–EU relations. Importantly, these are not only diplomatic or political events—they matter greatly for business, companies, and people.
They are especially significant for the members of the Poland-Asia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which fosters cooperation with China and the Chinese business diaspora in Poland and the European Union.
China is a key partner for the Polish economy—second only to our neighbor Germany, the EU’s largest economy. Today, Poland is the sixth-largest economy in the EU and the twentieth globally, with the best GDP growth performance in Europe. Despite this year being marked by global economic tensions and uncertainty, Poland maintains over 3.5% growth, and it is already clear that 2024 will bring a significant increase in investment, including from foreign investors. Most importantly, over 32% of imports from China to Poland are production inputs for our economy.
Poland is a European leader in the production of batteries for electric vehicles, furniture, window joinery, household appliances, televisions, cigarettes, apples, and apple concentrate. Polish road transport companies handle over 20% of freight in Europe, and PKP Cargo is the second-largest rail freight operator in Europe. Poland is also a key producer and exporter of high-quality food.
E-commerce is growing rapidly in Poland, and the country is increasingly becoming a logistics and distribution hub for Germany and Scandinavia in serving online trade. In addition to Polish giants like Allegro and InPost, major international players such as Amazon (USA), Alibaba, Temu, and Shein (China) are also active. This is evidenced by the Polish warehouse market operating at over 93% capacity, which this year exceeded 35 million square meters—over half of which has been built within the last 10 years.
More than 600 large Chinese companies operate successfully in Poland, and nearly 4,000 Chinese citizens run businesses here. Poland and Polish companies aspire to be the gateway hub for Chinese firms entering Europe.
We have significant advantages to realize this plan. The Port of Gdańsk ranks first on the Baltic Sea in container handling, while the Port of Gdynia ranks third. Ships from Chinese ports arrive at both. Over 90% of trains from China to the European Union enter through Polish border crossings, led by Małaszewicze. Polish border terminals and railway lines are undergoing record investments and modernization.
We aim to make even better use of the China–Poland Strategic Partnership, including President Xi’s proposal to build a Food Export Platform, his decision to introduce visa-free tourism, and the opening of the Chinese market to more Polish products and services.
For the past nine years, together with the leadership of China’s largest trade center GD Poland, we have been developing the Poland-Asia Center—a comprehensive platform for managing business relations between Poland and China: trade exchange, legal and investment support, customs and legal advisory, transport, logistics, and e-commerce entry to Poland and the EU market. Our strategic partner is the Chinese-Polish Chamber of Commerce, led by GD’s General Director Mr. Han Baohua.
Ningbo has a permanent representative office in GD Poland. The Poland-Asia Chamber includes a China Section, headed by Mr. Felix Wang, who coordinates cooperation with Chinese business. In preparation for the trip to Ningbo alone, we have held over 30 Polish-Chinese meetings and teleconferences this year.
Here in Ningbo, we would also like to express our deep gratitude for the outstanding cooperation with H.E. Sun Linjiang, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Poland, and the Economic Department of the Chinese Embassy in Warsaw.
In the face of today’s challenges, we have one clear answer: more partnership, more cooperation, more goodwill, and dialogue.
Let us begin every conversation by focusing on what unites us, not what divides us—remembering always that Together, We Can Achieve More.
You are welcome in Poland.
We invite you to cooperate.
