Economic and trade relations between Poland and China since 2004

The recent economic recession over much of the developed world may, at least partly, redirect Chinese activity towards regions different from those traditionally at the centre of Chinese interests. One such area is the eastern Baltic, in general, and Poland, in particular, as a large economy in the region. While there have been some political tensions in recent years, this article emphasises that cultural and economic relations have been developing significantly faster in the last few years, with mutual recognition increasing. While, not unexpectedly, there is still an imbalance of the quantity goods traded, and of a divergence in the categories of such goods, there are good reasons for optimism as recent high-level visits between both countries have shown. Looking at such factors as foreign direct investment growth and stimulus packages, this short descriptive, rather than analytical overview, presents a case for an optimistic scenario even if it does indicate a background of some uncertainty in the global context impacting upon growth of relations between the two countries.