Chinese President Hu Jintao said in Warsaw Wednesday his state visit to Poland has achieved desired objectives, promoted understanding and reinforced friendship between the two countries,

The visit has "increased mutual understanding and friendship, enhanced trust and reached wide-ranging consensus," Hu said at a meeting with local Chinese.

Hu's visit to Poland from Tuesday is the first made by a Chinese head of state since the two countries established full diplomatic ties 55 years ago. During the visit the president met separately with his Polish counterpart Aleksander Kwasniewski, Prime Minister Marek Belka and the speakers of the house and senate.

"The visit to Poland, Hungary and Romania fully demonstrated the importance that the Chinese government has attached to its relations with Central and Eastern Europe," Hu said.

China and Poland signed a joint statement on Tuesday pledging to build "friendly and cooperative partnership" relations. They also signed a number of agreements on economic cooperation and trade.

At the meeting with Prime Minister Belka, Hu also proposed that the two countries work together to explore potentials in economic cooperation and trade.

"China welcomes Polish entrepreneurs to participate into the development of its vast western areas and the rejuvenation of the old industrial belt," Hu said.

The trade volume between China and Poland reached a record level of US$1.98 billion last year, up 43.1 percent from the previous year. Poland is China's second largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe after Hungary.

Poland is the first leg of Hu's four-nation tour. He will also visit Hungary, Romania and Uzbekistan before attending a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in Tashkent, expected to begin on June 17.

(Xinhua News Agency June 10, 2004)