The talks focused on bilateral issues, support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression, and multilateral relations.

The meeting sought to invigorate political and economic contacts, concentrating on such bilateral matters as trade, investment and research cooperation, and the development of the treaty base. The discussions confirmed willingness to make more use of the potential for bilateral cooperation.

Minister Sikorski highlighted that the visit by New Zealand’s top diplomat coincides with the 80th anniversary of the arrival in New Zealand of more than 700 Polish children whom the country’s government had agreed to shelter temporarily during World War II. The head of Polish diplomacy thanked Minister Peters for presenting Poland with a valuable gift of new Zealand’s declassified archive files concerning the children from prewar Poland’s eastern borderlands who had been deported to Siberia in 1940 and made their way from there to New Zealand alongside the Polish troops under General Władysław Anders.

The ministers also spoke about the security situation in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, and preparations for the NATO summit in Brussels, where Minister Peters will also be present. Poland’s top diplomat observed that cooperation between New Zealand and the North Atlantic Alliance is a proof that the two countries are on the same page about current security challenges and stand resolved to counter them together.

Minister Sikorski thanked his interlocutor for New Zealand’s engagement and support for Ukraine. He also welcomed New Zealand’s announced ratification on 1 May of its Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, noting that the instrument will offer conditions for further growth in trade and investment between our two countries.

 

Photo: Barbara Milkowska, Sebastian Indra/MFA