President Andrzej Duda announced plans to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping, along with other leaders, to discuss economic relations and the pursuit of peace in Ukraine. He stressed that Ukraine’s territorial integrity remains a central issue for China’s Belt and Road initiative, highlighting how stability in Ukraine could influence regional connectivity and long‑term economic cooperation.
In a Friday interview with Radio Zet, the president outlined his forthcoming visit to China. When asked why he would engage with the authorities of a regime that governs a major world power, he answered that China’s global influence necessitates ongoing dialogue. He emphasized that every major nation seeks constructive relations with Beijing, and Poland should not be an exception.
“All healthy nations encounter China. Presidents from the world’s most influential countries meet as part of the global community. I am committed to maintaining friendly and pragmatic relations with China,” he stated.
He noted that his discussions in China would include talks about visa liberalization for Poles, enhancing economic ties, and coordinating approaches to the Ukrainian crisis. He also acknowledged China’s significant role in shaping future peace efforts in Ukraine, signaling a pragmatic, results‑oriented approach to travel and diplomacy.
Political conversations in China
Andrzej Duda underscored that the territory of Ukraine matters to China’s Belt and Road initiative, which envisions expanding an infrastructure network linking China with Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. When asked if Beijing might press Belarus’s President Alexander Lukashenko to curb hybrid threats, the president conceded that China has its own political mechanisms and influence to consider.
The Polish president is scheduled to travel to China on the night between Friday and Saturday, with the return planned for the following midweek. He will be accompanied by the first lady, Agata Kornhauser‑Duda, during the official visit.
The principal day of the visit is expected to feature formal discussions in Beijing, beginning with a meeting with Premier Li Qiang, followed by a session with Zhao Leji, the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, and culminating with a dialogue with Xi Jinping, the General Secretary of the Communist Party and the head of state.