President of NATO Member Poland Duda Visits China Today to Discuss Ukraine and Economy with Xi

NATO member Poland's President Andrzej Duda is on an official visit to China today and is holding talks with the leader of the country that supported Russia in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, AP reports.

Andrzej Duda expressed hope that his visit to Beijing would contribute to the development of positive relations between Poland and China, PAP reports.

On Monday, Andrzej Duda met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, before which he said that peace in Ukraine would be discussed. 

Asked whether he believes China holds the key to peace in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Duda said: "I think that to a large extent it does."

"I am trying to maintain friendly relations with China, Poland has always had decent relations with China, and I would like them to continue," Duda said earlier in an interview with privately owned Radio Zet.

Although China says it is neutral in the fighting, it has accused NATO of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin to launch an invasion of Ukraine by expanding. China still maintains strong trade and diplomatic relations with Russia. 

Poland shares a border with Ukraine and has provided shelter to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the fighting, and has maintained a tough stance against further expansion of Russian aggression.

Andrzej Duda will also push for the abolition of visas for Poles travelling to China and seek to increase Polish exports there to balance their trade relations.

Poland's state statistics said that 13.9% of national imports last year came from China, while Polish exports to China accounted for only a fraction of that figure.

The Polish president is expected to sign a number of trade agreements during his visit to China.

On Wednesday, Andrzej Duda will fly to the financial centre of Shanghai to participate in the Polish-Chinese Economic Forum.