Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said Poland boasts of its great development potential in Europe and its admission to the EU will facilitate Vietnam’s relations with the EU.

Poland is considered a gateway for Vietnam to export goods to Europe. However, last year’s two-way trade turnover of US$230 million was still far from matching its potential, Tu said.

Mr Tu called on businesses from both countries to promote exchanges towards signing specific cooperation contracts that will lift trade links to a higher plane.

Polish Deputy Foreign Minster Pawel Wojciechowski said Vietnam is one of the fastest developing countries in Asia, while Poland is a dynamically developing country in Europe. So far, the two countries have cooperated mostly in heavy industries and so they should now explore new cooperation areas such as hi-tech, public service, environmental protection, agriculture, and tourism.

The Polish Government’s US$280 million credit will help develop bilateral cooperation and reduce Poland’s import surplus from Vietnam.

Participants agreed that Vietnam and Poland should finalise agreements on investment encouragement and investment protection, and the exchange of market-survey groups.