Polish-made classic cars are pictured during the fifth Polonez Rally in Warsaw, Poland on May 3, 2025.  Photo: Xinhua

A China-Poland automotive cooperation-themed forum was held on Thursday at the Polish Embassy in Beijing, where the European country's official, academic and business representatives called for deeper collaboration in the automotive industry between China and Poland, while noting that bilateral tension in the electric vehicle (EV) sector is manageable.

The forum opened with a keynote speech from Polish Ambassador Jakub Kumoch, who emphasized that Poland is uniquely positioned to become a key partner for Chinese automakers looking to enter the European market.

"Poland is not only a production hub but also a gateway to Europe for Chinese companies wishing to expand their footprint in the EV sector," the ambassador said, outlining Poland's strategic advantages, including its skilled workforce, central location in Europe, and competitive manufacturing costs. He underscored the potential for Poland and China to collaborate in building state-of-the-art production facilities that meet the needs of the European market.

Official data released at the forum showed that 8 percent of Poland's GDP and 13.5 percent of its exports come from the automotive industry. However, Poland lacks native original equipment manufacturers and mainly acts as a supplier or assembly base for non-European manufacturers. In this case, the ongoing EV revolution is seen as an opportunity for Poland to strengthen its position in the European automotive market, according to a power point presentation shown at the event.

Beata Bialon-Dudek, procurement and supply chain director of ElectroMobility Poland, shared her company's ambitious plans to create an EV production hub in Poland targeting the European market. The state-owned company has secured a 100-hectare plot of land for the facility, with plans to scale up production from 150,000 vehicles per year to 300,000.

On the sidelines of the forum, Bialon-Dudek told the Global Times that she wanted to express her admiration for China's leadership in the field, noting how Chinese companies are fast, flexible, and at the forefront of EV technology. She emphasized that her company's desire is to build a European brand in collaboration with China, a joint venture model that would leverage Chinese expertise to succeed in the European market.

In addition to manufacturing collaboration, Jakub Jakóbowski, deputy director of the Centre for Eastern Studies, a state analytical institution under the Chancellery of the Prime Minister of Poland, addressed the current tariff discussions between the EU and China regarding EVs.

He said that while tariffs have been a point of contention, the risks associated with the tariff dispute are manageable. "Both sides are actively seeking ways to reduce tariffs and maintain a mutually beneficial trade relationship," Jakóbowski said.

During the forum, the Polish ambassador noted that Poland sees China not as a rival or enemy, but a partner, which was reaffirmed by the country's leaders. The two countries maintained close trade relations, with the value of imports from China to Poland reaching 49.2 billion euros ($57.57 billion) in 2024, while exports of Polish goods to China amounting to 3.6 billion euros, per data from the official website of the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.