Chinese president: Poland's Amber Road a 'success'

Opening the summit on Sunday, Xi said China's Belt and Road initiative is “the project of the century”.

The ambitious rail and maritime network will encompass some 60 countries in a drive by China to become a bigger player in global trade. Poland's Amber Road rail project – to cover countries in the Baltic region – is a major component of the Chinese plan in this part of Europe.

In his speech, Xi pledged an additional USD 14.5 billion for the Belt and Road initiative, as well as some USD 55 billion in lending programmes for participating countries.

“Spanning thousands of miles and years, the ancient silk routes embody the spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit," Xi said during his speech opening the summit. The Belt and Road initiative is China's plan to rebuild that ancient trade success.

The opening ceremony of the summit in Beijing was attended by Prime Minister Beata Szydło. Ahead of the summit, she said: “We want to cooperate with China in the fields of infrastructure, environment, tourism and cultural exchange.”

During a visit to Warsaw In July 2016, Xi Jinping reached agreements with Polish President Andrzej Duda to promote economic ties within China's Belt and Road and Poland's Amber Road frameworks.

In his talks with Xi, Duda said that “Poland stands ready to become a portal to Europe for the world's second largest economy”, Chinese news agency Xinhua said at the time.

PM Szydło in Beijing

During Polish Prime Minister Szydło's trip to Beijing, she met her Mongolian counterpart Jargaltulgyn Erdenebat.

She earlier held face-to-face meetings with Chinese President Xi.

“I am counting on further close cooperation in the political sphere within the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership and that it results in mutually beneficial, measurable economic ties,” Szydło said after a meeting. (rg)