His 3-day 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 diplomatic ties in 1950, the bilateral relationship has witnessed the regular exchange of high-ranking visits, including Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Poland in 2007.

The two countries have signed a number of agreements creating a legal gramework 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 US$125 million in 2001 to US$650 million 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 French colonialists and US imperialists, Poland has recently provided Vietnam with US$100 million in preferential loans and is willing to continue providing another US$260 million in the form of preferential loans for building and mineral mining projects.

The European country has also helped Vietnam train experts to restore heritage sites in Hue, the Cham towers in Hoi An and Cu Chi underground tunnels near Ho Chi Minh City.

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 friendly and co-operative ties.