Asia and Pacific Day at the Sejm provides an opportunity to discuss the issues of Poland's cooperation with Asian countries. Today's panel discussions were attended by representatives of state administration, politicians, scientists and entrepreneurs.
The Speaker of the Sejm Marek Kuchciński, who opened the meeting, emphasized the growing importance of Asia and the Pacific in contemporary international relations. He said that Poland clearly sees this trend and appreciates it.
- The strength of Asia Pacific is certainly its people and economy. This region has the largest population in the world and plays a key role in the global economy. It is worth recalling that in 2015, among the 20 largest economies in the world, as many as five were located in that region - said the Speaker. He noted that the significance and attractiveness of the region is also due to the significant cultural diversity and historical differences.
According to Speaker Kuchcinski, for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Asia-Pacific region is of exceptional importance for several reasons: geopolitical rationale, economic ties, economic strength and political potential.
As an important state in Central and Eastern Europe, Poland takes actions to coordinate the cooperation of the states in our region, especially on the EU and V4 forums, focused on the Asia-Pacific region and individual states. Let me mention two initiatives: the 16+China forum and the dialogue with Japan and the Republic of Korea on the forum of the Visegrad Group. It is also very important for us to cooperate with Asian countries in resolving the Ukrainian conflict. We have been successful in this regard, gaining international support for Ukraine among the countries of Asia and the Pacific.
The Poles had already covered the so-called Far East at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries when they were looking for the best strategy to fight for their independence. The simultaneous visits of Józef Piłsudski and Roman Dmowski to Japan in 1904 passed into legend in Polish politics. An additional factor that aroused interest in Asia and the Pacific was the presence of the Polish community in the region - first these were exiles and their descendants, and then emigrants from Polish lands.
- In recent months, Asia and the Pacific has been a region of increased Polish activity in the international arena. The activity of the President of Poland and the government, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is worth noting. Poland has joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, created at the initiative of the PRC. The Sejm of the Republic of Poland also began this year intensive parliamentary diplomacy focused on the countries of Asia and the Pacific," said Marshal Kuchciński.
There is growing interest in Asia among parliamentarians. The Speaker of the Sejm held talks with senior representatives of the legislative chamber of the PRC in Warsaw in September. He is preparing to make visits in 2017 to some countries in the region, including those inhabited by the Polish community.
Asia and Pacific Day is a good and proven means of public diplomacy, including parliamentary diplomacy, to promote Poland's relations with the countries of this part of the world and to disseminate knowledge about the region among Polish opinion makers.
