Chinese FM calls for expanding cooperation with Poland in post-pandemic era

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- China and Poland should earnestly plan and actively expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields in the post-pandemic era, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Tuesday.

In a telephone conversation with Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Wang said that the two countries' heads of state held a telephone conversation last week, which has enhanced mutual trust and consolidated the traditional friendship between China and Poland.

The two sides also reached important consensus on strengthening cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC), as well as jointly fighting the pandemic, Wang added.

He called on both sides to take this as a guide and implement it to the letter, so as to make China-Poland relations provide impetus for China-CEEC cooperation, and open up new prospects for China-Poland relations through China-CEEC cooperation.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, Wang said, China and Poland have been understanding and supporting each other, and initiated good cooperation in such areas as experience-sharing in epidemic prevention and control, ordering key medical supplies and pushing for resumption of work and production.

China will continue supporting the Polish government and people on their efforts to effectively keep the epidemic under control and ensure the normal operation of its economy and society, he said.

Wang said that China has shown to the world its commitment in making vaccines a global public good.

He said that China launches international vaccine cooperation to the needs of other countries, without any political conditions or private interests. There is only one purpose in this regard, he noted, which is helping mankind work together to defeat the virus and build a community of common health for mankind.

For his part, Rau congratulated China on its achievements in economic development and epidemic prevention and control, and appreciated China's commitment to making vaccines a global public good.

Noting that the Polish side attaches great importance to developing relations with China, Rau said Poland is willing to strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as economy and trade as well as epidemic prevention and control in accordance with the consensus reached by the two heads of state over the phone, and jointly push forward cooperation between China and CEEC.

Rau said he believes that Poland-China relations will be further consolidated after the test of the pandemic.

Wang also briefed the Polish side on China's position on affairs concerning Hong Kong and Xinjiang, stressing that non-interference in internal affairs is stated in the United Nations Charter and a basic norm in international relations.

Wang said he believes that Poland and other countries can uphold an objective position and adopt a just attitude.

Rau reiterated that Poland respects China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.