India and Poland Elevate Bilateral Ties to Strategic Partnership

Modi, Tusk elevate ties to strategic partnership between India & Poland

Modi was the first Indian premier to travel to Poland in 45 years, and the visit signalled India's intention to revitalise ties with the sixth largest economy in the European Union (EU) and a rising military power in Central Europe. Besides drawing up a four-year action plan for the strategic partnership that encompasses security cooperation, trade, technology, connectivity, counter-terrorism, cyber-security and health, the two sides decided to finalise a social security agreement to protect the interests of professionals working in each other's countries and to promote mobility. "This year, we celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations. On this occasion, we have decided to reshape our relation into a strategic partnership. Relations between India and Poland are based on shared values such as democracy and rule of law," Modi told a media interaction after his talks with Tusk, speaking in Hindi. Tusk said the upgrading of ties was not about just the definition but about the "determination and readiness to cooperate across many fields". Besides India, Poland's other strategic partners in Asia are China, Japan and South Korea. Modi described close cooperation in defence as a "symbol of our deep mutual trust" and said collaboration in this field will be strengthened. Tusk said there are many opportunities for genuine synergy between defence industries of the two sides. "Poland is ready to participate in the modernisation of military equipment. We have the qualifications, companies and technological capabilities for this," he said. Modi invited companies from Poland, a world leader in food processing, to join mega food parks in India and pointed to new opportunities for cooperation in water treatment, solid waste management and urban infrastructure. Clean coal technology, renewable energy and AI can be other areas for collaboration, he said. At the same time, India can share its expertise in fintech, pharmaceuticals and space, Modi said. Poland, Tusk said, has a lot to offer to India in the fields of green transformation and green energy. As Modi expressed understanding regarding temporary difficulties faced by Indian citizens intending to travel to Poland, the Polish side said this problem is not limited to India and was caused by the "ill-considered decisions" of the previous government. Work is underway to ease visa regulations. "Thank you for understanding these actions. They are, of course, not in any way aimed at India or Indian citizens. Here we have the full sense that Indian guests will always be welcome in Poland," Tusk said. Under the strategic partnership, the two sides will maintain regular high-level contacts, stimulate trade and investment and take steps to balance two-way trade and expand the trade basket. Bilateral trade is currently worth $6 billion, making Poland India's largest trade partner in Central Europe. The two sides reiterated their commitment to peace and a rules-based international order and agreed cooperation in security is "vital during serious conflicts and tensions in various regions of the world", according to a joint statement. They decided to enhance collaboration at multilateral forums to help maintain global stability and security. Tusk and Modi expressed their "deepest concern" at the war in Ukraine and its "tragic humanitarian consequences". They reiterated the need for a "comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity", the joint statement said. "In the context of this war, they shared the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable," the joint statement said, adding all states "must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state". The two leaders condemned all forms of terrorism and "emphasised that no country should provide a safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts". According to the action plan for the strategic partnership, institutions from the two sides will hold regular consultations on security and defence cooperation to promote contacts between defence industries and modernise military equipment. The next meeting of the joint working group for defence cooperation will be held in 2024. The action plan said the two sides will explore cooperation in hi-tech, agri-tech, energy, green technologies, infrastructure, defence, healthcare, pharmaceuticals and mining at the next meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) scheduled for the end of 2024. Modi also met Polish President Andrzej Duda at Belweder Palace in Warsaw and discussed bilateral relations and regional and global issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. Modi expressed gratitude for Poland's "invaluable and timely" assistance in evacuating Indian citizens from Ukraine. He also held separate meetings with Gawel Lopinski, CEO of Billenium Pvt Ltd, a Polish IT company with a presence in Pune, Alina Posluszny, the managing director of TZMO India, a manufacturer of diversified hygiene products, a group of prominent Polish Indologists, and Kabaddi Federation of Poland president Michal Spiczko and board member Anna Kalbarczyk.

PM Modi holds talks with Polish counterpart; India, Poland elevate ties to Strategic Partnership

In his statement at the joint press conference with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk, PM Modi said that close cooperation in the field of defence is a symbol of deep mutual trust between the two countries. "Mutual cooperation in this area will be made a priority. Innovation and talent are the identity of the youth power of both our countries," he said. PM Modi said a Social Security Agreement has been agreed upon between the two sides for the welfare of the skilled workforce and to promote mobility. India and Poland are also moving forward in close coordination on the international platform. "We both agree that reforms in the United Nations and international institutions are the need of the hour to face global challenges. Terrorism is a big challenge for us. Climate change is a matter of common priority for us. We will work for a green future by combining our capabilities," he said. The Prime Minister thanked PM Tusk for a warm welcome. "You have been a friend of India for a long time and you have a huge contribution to enhancing the relationship between India and Poland. Today after 45 years, an Indian Prime Minister has visited Poland. I got this opportunity at the beginning of my third term. I want to thank the government and the people of Poland for this," he said. The Prime Minister said the people of India can never forget the help that Poland's PM extended in rescuing Indian students when the Ukraine conflict began in 2022. "This year, we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. On this occasion, we have decided to convert the relationship into a strategic partnership. Relations between India and Poland are based on shared values like democracy and rule of law. Today, we have identified several initiatives to give a new direction to the relations. As two democratic countries, the exchange of views between our parliaments should be encouraged. Work will be done to connect the private sector to broaden economic cooperation," the Prime Minister said. He said Poland has world leaders in the field of food processing and India offers a lot of opportunities. "We want Polish companies to be associated with the mega food park being built in India. The rapid urbanization in India is opening up new opportunities for our cooperation in areas such as water treatment, solid waste management and urban infrastructure. Clean coal technology, green, hydrogen, renewable energy and Artificial Intelligence are also our common priorities." PM Modi invited Polish companies to join Make in India and Make for the World. "India has achieved many milestones in areas such as Fintech, Pharma and Space. We will be happy to share our experience with Poland in these areas," he said. He said Poland will assume the presidency of the European Union in January 2025 and expressed confidence that with PM Donald Tusk's support, relations between India and the EU will be strengthened further. PM Modi said Poland has a very old and rich tradition of Indology and Sanskrit and a strong foundation of our relations has been laid by the deep interest in Indian civilization and languages. "I saw a direct and living example of our deep people-to-people ties yesterday. I had the privilege of paying tribute at the memorial of Maharaja of Kolhapur. I am happy that even today the people of Poland respect his philanthropy and generosity. To immortalize his memory, we are going to start the Jam Saheb Nawanagar Youth Action Program between India and Poland. Every year, 20 young people from Poland will be taken on a visit to India," he said. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said PM Modi held constructive discussions with Poland's Prime Minister. "The leaders agreed to elevate - relations to a 'Strategic Partnership'. Discussions covered diverse areas of bilateral ties, including trade & investment, S&T, defence & security, cultural and people-to-people connections. Leaders also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern," he said in a post on X. The Prime Minister reached Poland on Wednesday on a two-day visit. A Prime Ministerial visit to Poland from India is taking place after 45 years. From Poland, PM will proceed to Ukraine in the second leg of his two-nation visit. (ANI)

India & Poland elevate ties to strategic partnership, ink social security pact

Modi arrived in this Polish capital on Wednesday, in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Poland in nearly half a century. In the second leg of his two-nation trip, Modi will be in Kyiv for around seven hours on Friday. Following the talks, the two sides unveiled a five-year "Action Plan" for the India-Poland strategic partnership identifying a range of areas including defence, trade, agri-tech, energy, green technologies, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and mining for cooperation. "This year we celebrate 70 years of our diplomatic relations. On this occasion, we have decided to reshape our relationship into a strategic partnership," Modi said in his media statement. "Today we have identified several initiatives to give a new direction to our relations," he said. The prime minister said the social security agreement will promote the mobility of the workforce and ensure their welfare. Modi also thanked Poland for facilitating the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine after the conflict began in 2022. In his remarks, Tusk said Poland wants to expand its defence cooperation with India. "We are ready to take part in the modernisation of military equipment," he said. A joint statement said both sides recognised the need to strengthen and deepen cooperation in the defence sector. To this end, they agreed to fully utilise existing bilateral mechanisms, including the Joint Working Group for Defence Cooperation. The two leaders underscored that as the world's two largest democracies, the EU and India have a common interest in ensuring security, prosperity and sustainable development in a multi-polar world, the joint statement said. "They reaffirmed their commitment to deepen India-EU strategic partnership, which would not only benefit both sides but also have a far-reaching positive impact globally," it said. It said the two leaders expressed their commitment to peace and rules-based international order with the UN Charter at its core. Modi and Tusk agreed that cooperation in the sphere of security in its multiple dimensions is vital during serious conflicts and tensions in various regions of the world. "They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral, regional, and international cooperation for a more stable, prosperous, and sustainable world," the statement said. The two prime ministers decided to enhance collaboration at multilateral forums to promote respect for rules-based international order and maintain global peace, stability, and security. The two leaders reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and emphasised that no country should provide a safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. Both sides stressed the need for firm implementation of relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, as well as the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. "They also reaffirmed the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT)," the statement said. Acknowledging the critical role of digitalisation in economic and social development, both sides agreed to bolster bilateral cooperation in this field, including in cybersecurity, to enhance stability and trust between the two countries. In his remarks, Modi said both sides agreed that reform in the United Nations and other international institutions is the need of the hour to face various global challenges. "Terrorism is a big challenge for us. More such cooperation is necessary between countries like India and Poland which believe in humanity," he said. "Similarly, climate change is a matter of shared priority for us. We both will work for a green future by combining our capabilities," he said. "Poland will assume the presidency of the European Union in January 2025. I am confident that your cooperation will strengthen the relations between India and the EU," he added. Modi also talked about Poland's expertise in the field of food processing. "We want Polish companies to join the Mega Food Parks being built in India. Rapid urbanisation in India is opening up new opportunities for our cooperation in areas such as water treatment, solid waste management, urban infrastructure," he said. "Clean coal technology, green hydrogen, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence are also our common priorities. We invite Polish companies to join Make in India and Make for the world," he said. Modi said India has achieved many achievements in areas such as fin-tech, pharma and space and it will be happy to share the experience with Poland. PTI MPB ZH AKJ ZH ZH