During PM Narendra Modi’s historic visit to Poland, the two countries decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to the level of a “strategic partnership”, and unveiled a 5-year program to implement the same. In the meeting between PM Modi and Polish PM Donald Tusk, both sides vowed to significantly expand the bilateral defence and security ties, and Tusk expressed Warsaw’s eagerness to be a key partner in New Delhi’s aim to boost domestic defence production and modernise its armed forces.
PM Modi arrived in Polish capital Warsaw on Wednesday, in the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Poland in nearly half a century. Apart from meeting PM Donald Tusk, he also held a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda on Thursday. During the meeting of the two PM, the two countries decided to elevate the India-Poland relationship to strategic partnership.
The two PMs held talks in private and also in delegation level formats. The two leaders agreed that there were significant opportunities available for economic and business collaboration in sectors such as food processing, urban infrastructure, water, solid waste management, electric vehicles, green hydrogen, renewable energy, AI, mining and in clean technologies.
The leaders underscored the importance of deepening people-to-people ties and cultural relations. In this regard, they highlighted the unique bond established between the two countries based on the generosity of Maharaja of Jamnagar and the royal family of Kolhapur. Modi and Tusk also discussed important regional and global issues of mutual interest including the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. They exchanged views on reform of United Nations and other international institutions, climate change action and threats posed by terrorism.
Following this decision, the two sides unveiled a five-year Action Plan for the period 2024-2028 in a range of areas including defence, trade, agri-tech, energy, green technologies, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and mining for cooperation.
The five-year action plan is as follows:
Political Dialogue and Security Cooperation
The two sides will maintain regular contacts between foreign ministers, and they will use both bilateral and multilateral fora for these interactions.
Both sides will consider supporting each other’s aspirations on a case-by-case basis to contribute to multilateral cooperation in the spirit of the United Nations Charter.
The two sides will ensure holding of annual political dialogue at the level of deputy minister in charge of foreign relations.
The two sides will encourage relevant institutions to hold regular consultations on security and defence cooperation to promote contact between defence industries, modernise military equipment, and address outstanding issues.
The two sides decided that the next round of the Joint Working Group for defence cooperation will take place in 2024.
Trade and Investment
Recognizing opportunities in high-tech, agriculture, agritech, food tech, energy, climate, green technologies, infrastructure, smart cities, defense, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and mining, the two sides will explore further cooperation in these sectors during next Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation (JCEC) meeting scheduled for the end of 2024.
The two sides will strive to organize meetings of JCEC at least twice every five years, with the possibility of more frequent meetings, if necessary.
Both sides will work towards achieving balanced bilateral trade and addressing all issues to facilitate smooth trade and investment.
Both sides will enhance cooperation in economic security by focusing on increasing supply chain resilience and mitigating risks associated with trade dependencies.
Climate, Energy, Mining, Science and Technology
The two sides will expand their cooperation in sustainable and environmentally friendly technological solutions for the circular economy and waste-water management.
Acknowledging their historical reliance on domestic supplies for energy security, both sides will work together on advancing cleaner energy approaches and exploring cooperation in Clean Coal Technologies to minimize environmental impact.
Recognizing the crucial role of innovation and the growing importance of critical minerals, the two sides will collaborate on advanced mining systems, high-tech machinery, pioneering safety standards, and increase exchanges and cooperation in mining-related industries.
Both sides agreed to work on concluding a cooperation agreement to promote the safe, sustainable, and secure use of space and commercial space ecosystems. They also agreed to promote human and robotic exploration.
Poland recognizes India’s ambition to join the International Energy Agency.
Transport and Connectivity
The two sides will explore developing cooperation in the field of transport infrastructure.
The two sides will work to enhance connectivity between their countries and respective regions by discussing and pursuing further expansion of flight connections.
Terrorism
The two sides reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and emphasized that no country should provide a safe haven to those who finance, plan, support or commit terrorist acts. Both sides will make concerted efforts against all terrorists, including by designating individuals affiliated with groups that are listed by the UN Security Council 1267 sanctions committee.
Cyber Security
Recognizing the critical importance of cyber security for economic and social development, both sides will enhance close interaction and increased exchanges in ICT-related fields, with particular attention to international cooperation, legislative and regulatory solutions, judicial and police activities, deterrence, prevention and responses to cyber-attacks, awareness-building and educational programs, scientific and technological research and development, business and economic exchanges.
Health
Both sides underlines the vital role of strengthening collaboration in the field of health by exchanging and sharing information on areas of mutual interest, enhancing contacts among health experts, and supporting cooperation between health institutions in both countries.
People-to-People Ties and Cultural Cooperation
Both sides will work together to implement the Agreement on Social Security and they will make efforts to complete their respective internal legal procedures in this regard.
The two sides will strengthen cooperation between cultural institutions and organisations of the two countries. The two sides will strengthen exchanges between artists, language experts, scholars, and cultural institutions from both countries. They will also explore establishing cooperation and dialogue between their think tanks and experts.
The two sides will work together to strengthen cooperation in higher education and encourage universities from both sides to organise relevant activities. They will also encourage respective authorities to establish partnerships between academic institutions in both countries.
Both sides emphasized importance of education and linguistic and cultural exchange in building mutual understanding and fostering bilateral cultural ties. They also recognized the role of Hindi and Indian studies in Poland and Polish language and culture studies in India and agreed to work on an agreement between Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange and respective Indian agencies on teaching Polish language at various universities in India.
Both sides will continue to expand tourist flows in both directions by strengthening cooperation in tourism. This includes organizing tourism missions, arranging family trips for influencers and travel agencies, and participating in tourism fairs and roadshows in both countries.
To mark the 75th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations, both sides will hold cultural festivals in each-others countries organized by the diplomatic missions. Dates for such special events will be decided in mutual consultations.
Both sides will also promote a Student Exchange Programme and build mutual understanding with younger generation.
India-EU
Recognizing that the EU and India are key international partners with a significant role in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity, both sides will support the early conclusion of the ongoing India-EU trade and investment negotiations, the operationalization of the India-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC), and the implementation of the India-EU Connectivity Partnership to advance the India-EU Strategic Partnership in trade, new technologies, and security.
Way Forward
Both sides will ensure regular monitoring of the implementation of the Action Plan, with the annual political consultation as the primary mechanism for reviewing and updating the activities. The extension of the Action Plan for another five-year period will be adopted by the respective ministers in charge of foreign affairs.
