Beijing closer to Warsaw

autor zdjęcia: Jerzy Dąbrowski

źródło: Fotorzepa

Show performed by Chinese artists staged in Warsaw on January 25, 2016.

Now China understands very well that the moment of opening to the world has come. Beijing leads multilateral relations with EU institutions and with each member of the European Union.

Rafał Tomański

Last year there was an important visit of Chinese president to the United Kingdom, where he met the Queen and Prime Minister. Xi Jinping is very active in terms of foreign affairs. According to media he dedicates 1/3 of his time to international issues. In 2015 he spent 42 days on official visits abroad. During first three years of his Presidency he visited more than 50 countries. He is the first such active head of China.

System of strategic partnerships is one of the most important elements of Chinese foreign politics. In 21st century they were signed with 47 countries and 3 international organizations (EU, ASEAN and African Union). However there is no unified list, because strategic partnerships have different levels and meanings for China. Poland signed a strategic partnership with China on Dec 21st 2011. We are one of 15 EU countries of that status (since 2004 our relations were described as „friendly cooperative partnership"). All members of V4 are interested in building relations with China.

Since April 2012 there is also "16+1" initiative. It consists of China, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary (11 members of EU). As another platform of cooperation it helps strengthening relations between China and Central-Eastern Europe along with their...