2nd meeting of China-Poland Intergovernmental Committee Joint Conclusions
1. On 8 July 2019, the second meeting of China-Poland Intergovernmental Committee was held in Warsaw co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China and H.E. Mr. Jacek Czaputowicz, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
2. The two sides had a comprehensive and in-depth exchange of views on China-Poland political and economic relations, as well as social, cultural and people-to-people cooperation. The Ministers discussed the cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, the China-European Union relations and international and regional issues of mutual interest.
3. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, multilateralism, the international order with the United Nations at the center, and supporting the United Nations in playing a central role in international affairs, as well as the principles of mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation and building an open world economy safeguarding multilateralism and free trade and making globalization more open, balance, inclusive and beneficial to all.
4. The two sides reviewed the progress of bilateral relations since the first meeting of the Committee in 2015. They acknowledged the increased number of high-level visits and sectoral dialogues. They agreed that in view of the forthcoming 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries, there is a need to further strengthen and expand bilateral exchanges and effective cooperation, so as to constantly advance China-Poland Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They underlined that in achieving this goal, regular Intergovernmental Committee meetings play an important role.
5. The two sides noted the progress of the cooperation between China and CEE countries and reiterated that they will contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and carry out cooperation within the applicable norms of international law, and in accordance with the national realities, laws, regulations and EU policies.
6. The two sides supported the continued implementation of the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation and the adoption of a new China-EU cooperation agenda beyond 2020 and agreed that their bilateral relations contribute to the deepening of the China-EU Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and its various political and sectorial dialogues.
7. The two sides will contribute to forging synergies between the Strategy for Responsible Development implemented in Poland, EU Strategy of Connecting Europe and Asia as well as the Belt and Road Initiative. They expressed support for a continued cooperation within the framework of the China-EU Connectivity Platform, looked forward to the implementation of the agreed pilot projects and further promote infrastructure connectivity between China and EU, including in neighboring countries. The two sides agreed to continue their cooperation in the framework of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as its founding members, through further exploring opportunities of joint projects and investments, including in third markets. They welcomed AIIB engagement in infrastructure investments in the Bank’s member countries outside Asia in accordance with its approved policies.
8. The two sides noted the significance of possible synergy between extended Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) with networks in Asia for Eurasian connectivity.
9. The two sides discussed the key role Poland is playing in developing effective and economically competitive Eurasian transport corridors. In this context, they agreed to strengthen cooperation and to explore possibilities to provide services to increasing mutual volumes of goods and freight trains towards consolidating the existing and potential routes and logistical chains. The two sides agree to enhance cooperation on issues related to security of China Europe railway cargo transportation.
10. The two sides also acknowledged increased opportunities in the area of maritime cooperation, ports development and inland navigation and welcome the activities of the China-CEEC Coordinating Secretariat for Maritime Issues. The two sides agreed to conduct capacity building cooperation in shipping and maritime affairs.
11. The two sides acknowledged increased air traffic between Asia and Europe and supported designated airlines in an effort to expand direct flight connections between China and Poland. In this context, they discussed ongoing and future infrastructure projects.
12. The two sides acknowledged that the bilateral cooperation in the field of postal services, formalized in 2017, has a considerable potential to further develop e-commerce market. The two sides shall encourage their postal operators to expand their cooperation in cross-border e-commerce including building delivery networks, enhancing handling capacity and developing new products.
13. The two sides decided to further intensify their economic relations in order to achieve a sustainable partnership with greater equilibrium. They agreed to make full use of all existing mechanisms of cooperation.
14. The two sides will work together with a view to promoting mutual investments and the balanced bilateral trade, in particular through supporting the reduction of non-tariff barriers, within their respective regulations and legal frameworks, based on the equal opportunities for their respective entrepreneurs. They will support e-commerce cooperation between enterprises of two sides, and explore new approaches in economic and trade cooperation. They agreed on the importance of the role SMEs play in the economic and social development and, therefore, believed that it is important to further strengthen practical cooperation between SMEs of China and those of Poland. The two sides agreed to use the existing mechanism of cooperation at local level to enhance trade and investment relations between particular Chinese and Polish provinces and cities.
15. The two sides are willing to promote the expansion of trade in agri-food products and will undertake measures to deepen bilateral dialogue on veterinary, phytosanitary and food safety issues. In particular, they agreed to strengthen cooperation in facilitating registration for the poultry product enterprises of Poland. They recognized the role and achievements of the Chinese-Polish Center for Agricultural Science and Technology in promoting the exchange and cooperation between agricultural research institutes of China and Poland. They agreed to make full use of the Center to further cooperation in agricultural science and technology.
16. The two sides will support China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Polish Investment and Trade Agency and other trade and investment promotion agencies as well as business chambers and organizations to take a greater part in promoting economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, among others in the field of SMEs targeting activities. They will encourage business communities of both sides to work closely in commercial legal services, delegation exchanges, information and research, etc. They will make full use of the cooperation mechanism between the agencies to providing pragmatic platforms for enterprises of both countries.
17. The two sides support the expeditious conclusion of the negotiations of an ambitious China-EU Comprehensive Investment Agreement which remains a top priority and a key project towards establishing and maintaining an improved market access and open, predictable, fair and transparent business environment for their respective investors.
18. The two sides reaffirm their commitment to engage also in work on WTO reform to ensure its continued relevance and allow to address global trade challenges.
19. Both parties are satisfied with the recent strengthening of cooperation between their customs authorities. They look forward to further discussions at the 3rd China-CEEC High Level Customs Cooperation Forum in Poland (22-24 October 2019).
20. The two sides will increase communication to address impacts on tax arising from the digitalisation of economy.
21. The two sides recognized that there is a huge potential in strengthening bilateral cooperation in science and innovation, research and development, including in Data Economy, energy technology, environmental technology and material science and will explore possibilities for developing concrete projects in these areas.
22. The two sides decide to promote policy dialogue in the fields of social assistance, elderly care service, social organization administration, social work and volunteer service; actively implement the MoU in social assistance and carry out practical exchanges and cooperation.
23. They discussed further steps to strengthen cooperation in the field of education through inter alia student exchanges, and to support the learning of each other’s language.
24. Building upon ongoing positive people-to-people contacts and significant increase in tourist exchanges, the two sides decided to further promote cooperation in the field of tourism. They acknowledged the importance of sustainable growth of tourism flow by encouraging all stakeholders to engage in creating high quality and attractive tourism products, such as urban and cultural tourism with a special focus on cultural routes and heritage tourism. The two sides decided to continue encouraging the cooperation between tourism organizations and their participation at tourism fairs within the framework of cooperation between China and Poland.
25. In the cultural field, the two sides will support in-depth exchange, practical cooperation, developing channels, integrating resource, innovating models, enriching contents as well as improving the role of intercultural dialogue, mutual knowledge and understanding by way of the exchange of artists, experts, educators and directors of cultural institutions, as well as good practices in specific fields.
26. The two sides welcomed the adoption of the Paris Agreement Work Programme at UNFCCC COP 24 in Katowice in December 2018, and will continue their cooperation in addressing climate change.
27. The two sides will step up ecological and environmental cooperation, making contribution to environmental protection and sustainable development at national, regional and global level.
28. The two sides reviewed the existing bilateral consultative mechanisms between their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs, such as the regularly held Strategic Dialogue. Their reiterated their readiness to continue effective cooperation at key multilateral fora, such as the UN, UN Security Council, ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) and World Trade Organization.
29. The two sides underlined the important role of regional cooperation in fostering economic growth, tourism and people-to-people contacts, education and culture exchanges. They supported the initiative of holding the fifth edition of China-Poland Regional Forum in 2020 in China, with a significant business component.
30. The two sides agreed that in principle, the meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee will continue to be held in their capitals in turn once every two years.
source:Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China
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