The "2nd Regional Forum, Poland - China"  kicked off in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province on June 9. A total 150 local government officials, scholars and entrepreneurs will attend the conference, hailing from the most active regions in trade and investment, such as Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shandong, Chongqing, Shenzhen, Foshan and Pomorskie, Łódzkie, Małopolskie, Dolnośląskie and Śląskie from the Polish side.

Co-organized by Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Government of Guangdong Province and Ministry of Infrastructure and Development of Poland, the annual event will also gather local leaders from Poland and China, was the brainchild of President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski during his December 2011 visit to China.

The idea was later endorsed by the Polish Premier Donald Tusk and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Warsaw in 2012. Leaders on both sides agreed to fully support events involving provincial and city governments to boost regional cooperation.

CPAFFC president, Polish Deputy Minister from Ministry of Infrastructure and Development and the mayor of Shenzhen spoke at the opening ceremony. Four panels covering Environmental Protection, City Reconstruction, Education and Sustainable Tourism are scheduled to present during the forum.

Tourism is expected to be a new spotlight for bilateral cooperation. Poland was the beneficiary of the 2012 European Football Championship. The number of Chinese tourists in collective tourism establishments increased to 39,289 in 2013, or 10.3 percent growth compared to 2012.

The addition of LOT airline's direct Beijing-Warsaw route has also significantly facilitated travellers between the two countries. Moreover, from January 2013 to June 2014, the Polish Tourist Organization (PTO) launched the "I like Poland!" project. Massive professional media campaigns targeted tour operators, tourist related media and Chinese consumers.

Targeting at Chinese market, PTO seeks to improve awareness of Poland as a tourist destination, enhance the competitiveness of Poland and attract more tourists from China.

Tadeusz Chomick, Polish Ambassador to China, said, "2014 is designated as the year for promotion of investment and trade between China and CEE countries. Regional cooperation is a vital pillar for bilateral ties. Poland attaches great importance to the Forum-four deputy marshals will be present with their delegation. Provinces in Poland enjoy relatively big autonomy in economic management. We also noticed that in China, the policy of 'letting go more power to local government and market' was launched to bolster government reform. Therefore the Regional Forum will create a dynamic platform for pragmatic cooperation."

Strategically located at the heart of Europe, dynamic economic growth and a stable political environment has made Poland one of the best destinations for FDI, accredited by various institutions and rating agencies such as, UNCTAD, A.T. Kearney, Ernst & Young. According to Polish Minister of Finance, the Ministry expects full-year GDP growth to come in at 3.3 percent in 2014, 3.8 in 2015 and 4.3 over the following two years.

As China and CEE countries' cooperation continues to bloom, numerous Chinese cities and provinces are sending their representatives to Poland this coming summer, including Zhejiang, Guangdong, Shandong, Shanghai and Chongqing municipality. Areas of their interest in Poland cover such sectors as machinery, infrastructure, auto accessories, food processing, tourism, medical and chemical industries. In addition, the newly opened rail route Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe and Chengdu-Łódź railway passing through Poland will help to improve connectivity and trade between the regions.

As recently as May 27, Governor of Zhejiang Province Li Qiang headed a delegation of more than 100 entrepreneurs to Poland and attended the Zhejiang (China)-Poland Business Matchmaking Forum 2014. Li said, "Companies from Zhejiang are well capitalized and positive about cooperation. Poland's stable investment environment and open economic policy is very encouraging. The conditions and prospects of our cooperation are outstanding with great potential."