Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is landing in Hanoi on Sept.8 to kick
off a three-day visit aimed at boosting economic, trade and investment
ties between the two countries.
The visit, made at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen
Tan Dung, is expected to include discussions on ways to further develop
the 60-year bilateral relationship.
Since the
establishment of the diplomatic ties in 1950, the bilateral relationship
has witnessed regular high-ranking visits, with Prime Minister Nguyen
Tan Dung visiting Poland in 2007.
The two countries
have signed a number of agreements creating a legal framework for
cooperation in the fields of culture, sciences, judicial support,
investment protection, maritime transport, agriculture and rural
development.
Poland is now Vietnam 's biggest trade
partner in Eastern and Central Europe . The bilateral export turnover
has increased sharply from 125 million USD in 2001 to 650 million USD in
2008.
Vietnam has witnessed an export surplus with
key commodities including garment and textiles, agricultural products
and food and major imports including formula milk, pharmaceutical
products, steel and iron.
After supporting Vietnam
during the country's two wars against France and the US , Poland
recently provided Vietnam with 100 million USD in preferential loans
and is now willing to continue providing another 260 million USD in the
form of preferential loans for building and mineral mining projects.
The European country has helped Vietnam train experts to restore
heritage sites in Hue , the Cham towers in Hoi An and the Cu Chi
underground tunnels.
More than 4,000 Vietnamese students
and 3,500 workers have been sent to Poland to study and for
training, primarily in the building and coal mining sectors.
The Vietnamese community in Poland , which has about 3,000 people at
the moment, is an important bridge between the two sides to develop
their friendship and cooperative ties./.
