Photo shows Ms. Barbara Szymanowska (center), Director of Asia and Pacific Department of Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and Mr. Łukasz Karsznicki (right), Attaché of the Department of Asia and Pacific, Ministry of Foreign Affairs answering question during the recent meeting with Filipino journalists in Warsaw, Poland
By Monsi A. Serrano
Photos by Mau Victa/THEPHILBIZNEWS
Citing the importance of the Asia Pacific region to Poland and other EU countries, Republic of Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Director of Asia and Pacific Department Barbara Szymanowska unscored the importance of the relationship between foreign countries from the region and Poland.
Director of Asia and Pacific Department
Republic of Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA)
Speaking with the Filipino journalists at her office in Warsaw, Poland Ministry of Foreign Affairs office, Szymanowska acknowledged the role of the partners in the region on economic, geopolitical and social issues.
“Our biggest partners in the region are Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, India, and China. But of course, the region of Southeast Asia is very important for us. We believe that this is one of the most dynamic regions in the world,” she said.
“I have to stress that Poland is determined to further further development of friendly relations with all countries from Southeast Asia, of course including your beautful country, Europe and other countries. Poland preserves ASEAN as an important element of international security and the global economy. We believe that it’s very promising partner for Poland not just in the economic but also in the political dimensions, as well as cooperation in the development of technologies and innovations,” Szymanowska explained.
Cooperations on hand other potential cooprations
“I would just like to add that we as a member of EU is very happy that ASEAN is with the EU side in strategic partnership held last December 2020. I hope that this agreement will help us to to stretch our relations not only in the economic field as I said, also able to people to people cooperation,” she added.
Szymanowska also admited that the COVID 19 pandemic has changed the countour of its relationship with the Philippines in terms of trade activities and other cooperations but now expects more tradional cooperations with the Philippines.
According to Szymanowska, last year Poland had two political consultations via videoconference, but as the Poland and Philippines gear up for the celebration of the 50th anniversary diplomatic relationship, she hopes that there will be more activities and coopration to be done for this year and for the years to come in the areas of political, people to people, technologies and innovations, and education.
“The 50 years diplomatic relationship between the Philippines and Poland is very important,” Szymanowska said.
She also revealed that the relationship between the Philippines and Poland 49 years ago started with the Polish people who were in the Philippines like the missionaries, travelers an researchers who were very active before. They were the the links between Poland and Philippines that go a long way till now.
Polish Embassy and Trade bureau in the Philippines
Admitting that in terms of economic and trade cooperation, the momentum of the Philippines and Poland was stalled by the pandemic. The MOFA provided an information sheet detailing the trade transactions in the last five years where it showing that the trade relations between Poland and the Philippines grew by more than 120 percent from US$397.6 million in 2016 to US$877.85 million in 2021.
Expressing her confidence that this growth will increase further given the tempered impact of the pandemic. “We are back on track and for sure, there is a lot of cooperation and relationship to enhance from both sides,” she said.
“I understand that some we’ve had the chance to talk with our ambassador, our embassy and to his contacts with them. As you know we reestablished our Embassy in Manila in (January) 2018. In the past we Embassy in Manila but it was all planned out for a few years. But I really hope that now with the new embassy and trade bureau, our presence will not just be stronger but also longer.”
“With all the developments and cooperations we have, I believe it is a good sign. And if you have some questions about economic and trade, you may contact our economic bureau,” she said.
