Polish FM names China as major partner in Asia in annual speech to parliament

WARSAW - In his annual speech made on Wednesday in Sejm, lower house of the Polish parliament, Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz said China is Poland's main partner in Asia.

The speech concerning the country's foreign policy was addressed to the members of parliament and President Andrzej Duda.

To show the importance of this partnerships, Czaputowicz gave serval figures between the two countries, including the nearly $30 billion trade turnover in 2017 and around 140,000 Chinese tourists who visited Poland.

According to the minister, Poland's position in the transport of goods between China and Europe was constantly growing, with almost 90 percent of railway connections between them passing through the terminal in Malaszewicze, eastern Poland.

Czaputowicz said the main challenge in relations with China is to reduce the trade deficit on Polish side.

The FM's speech also concerned other major tasks of Poland's foreign policy in the following year, including further strengthening of security ties with the US, the development or regional cooperation and participating in the migration crisis solving process.

While commenting on the EU's future, the Polish FM said Poland wants a strong European Union, which could enjoy support from member states.