Olsztyn government has partnered with the Chinese city of Weifang. The Chinese are also interested in cooperation with the University of Warmia and Mazury.
Olsztyn contacts with the city of Weifang started last August, a letter of intent on mutual exchange of experiences and contacts was signed in Poland. "After President Andrzej Duda\'s visit in China (in November 2015 -PAP), the Chinese invited me and a representative of the University of Warmia and Mazury to Weifang. We went to China and in our opinion there is a potential for joint projects" - said on April 25 President of Olsztyn Piotr Grzymowicz, who visited China in April.
Vice-Rector of the university, Prof. Mirosław Gornowicz admitted that particularly the faculties of veterinary and food science may engage in cooperation. The Chinese also declared to launch the Confucius Institute in Olsztyn and equip it. The institute will teach the Chinese language. "We will consider these proposals, we will talk with Chinese students and with other universities in the country about their experiences" - said Prof. Gornowicz.
President of Olsztyn Piotr Grzymowicz hopes that the agreement will be formalized during the next visit of the President of China in Poland - as announced at a press conference in Olsztyn City Hall.
According to Grzymowicz, the Chinese are interested in investing in infrastructure and energy (renewable energy sources, especially photovoltaics). "They also expressed interest in the location of the city and its proximity to the border with Kaliningrad. They asked me about the possibility of building logistics centres" - said Grzymowicz. He added that due to the natural beauty of Warmia the Chinese are also interested in organizing English language camps in Olsztyn, combined, for example, with sailing courses.
"There are also huge opportunities in the context of food exports but we know that for this decisions of the authorities at the highest level are needed" - said Grzymowicz. He added that the city is interested in formalizing the cooperation with Weifang and he hoped that such an agreement would be concluded during the next visit of the President of China in Poland.
Weifang is a prefecture-level city in central Shandong province in the east of China. Its population is 2 million people. (PAP)
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