Advancing New Zealand's bilateral and trade relationship with Poland

A parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker, Rt Hon David Carter, has been advancing the bilateral and trade relationship with Poland during the past week.

In Warsaw, the delegation met with the Speakers of both the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Economy, Mr Janusz Piechociński, and members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and the Poland-New Zealand Parliamentary Group.

The delegation's visit to Poland reciprocated a number of recent visits by senior Polish members of Parliament to New Zealand, including by the Speaker of the Polish Senate, Marshal Borusewicz, who was hosted by the New Zealand Parliament in June last year. The Deputy Speaker of Poland also led a delegation of members of Parliament to New Zealand in November 2014 for the 70th Anniversary of the arrival of 734 Polish refugee "Pahiatua children" in late 1944.

"The New Zealand-Poland bilateral relationship is one of genuine warmth and friendship. It is important for us to continue to grow that relationship, particularly at the parliamentary level, where Poland has had extensive engagement with New Zealand in recent times," the Speaker said.

"We were grateful to Speaker Sikorski for his motion in the Polish House of Representatives that thanked New Zealand for its kindness and generosity, in opening our doors to those Polish refugee children in 1944," the Speaker added.

The delegation also visited the former Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau.

"As one survivor, Henry Appel, said 'there is only one thing worse than Auschwitz itself...and that is if the world forgets there was such a place.' As New Zealand is a close friend of the Polish people and a contributor to the Perpetual Fund of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, we must never forget the evil that took place," the Speaker said.

Finally, the delegation sought to confirm Polish support, at the political level, for New Zealand to enter into negotiations with the European Union (EU) for a free trade agreement.

"There are significant opportunities for increased cooperation between our two countries, particularly in the agricultural sector. During our discussions, the Deputy Prime Minister described Poland as a "staunch ally for New Zealand" in advocating for us to begin free trade negotiations with the EU, and we are extremely grateful to him, and Speakers Sikorski and Borusewicz, for their strong, continued support," the Speaker concluded.

ENDS

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