Verklaring van Zijne Majesteit de Koning na afloop van de werklunch met President Komorowski
De verklaring is uitgesproken in het Engels.
I would like to thank the President for his kind words and for his hospitality.
My wife and I are very happy to be here in Poland. This is my very first State visit since I was invested as King, in April last year. It is no coincidence that Poland is my first destination. The significance of this country is increasing year after year. This State visit is a wonderful opportunity to get to know Poland even better.
I am impressed by the rapid transformation Poland has realised in a relatively short time. 25 years ago, the Polish people had the courage to take control of their own destiny. This year, Poland is celebrating 25 years of democracy. Poland has developed into a strong and dynamic partner. It has a great deal to offer.
We feel closely connected to Poland. During these two days, we will be celebrating the strong ties between our countries.
We will mark our shared past. Especially the role brave Polish soldiers played in liberating our country at the end of the Second World War. We will commemorate the liberation of Breda and other towns by the First Polish Armoured Division, commanded by General Stanisław Maczek. And we are honored to meet veterans of the Maczek Division later today. Their personal stories underscore how vital freedom is.
In the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising, we will remember the suffering under the yoke of occupation. Anyone who contemplates the past will understand how important it is that we safeguard our freedom together.
At present there are many ties between the people of our two countries. Poles living and working in the Netherlands. Dutch people living and working in Poland. We will be meeting the Dutch community tomorrow at the embassy.
Poland is a very attractive partner. It has registered steady growth at a time when many countries in Europe have been laid down by the economic crisis. That is a great achievement.
Our mutual trade amounts, and that is the most actual information, to more than 15 billion euros in imports and exports.
Both our countries have a strong interest in innovation. Innovation enables us to make our economies more efficient and to increase productivity. We will have a large seminar devoted to this topic tomorrow, in the presence of many members of the Polish and Dutch business communities. Fields of mutual interest include water management, agriculture and urban planning.
In Poznán, we will see how our business ties translate into physical connections, like the freight train line between Poznán and the Port of Rotterdam.
And we'll gladly take the opportunity to visit the National Museum in Poznán!
This is a visit with a view to the future. Poland is an inspiring partner at the very heart of Europe. We would like to build on our good relations because we are convinced that the future has even more opportunities in store for us, in Poland and the Netherlands.
Thank you!