On June 25, 2025, the Podlaskie Chamber of Aviation and the Chinese-European International Cooperation Foundation (CEICF) signed a Letter of Intent outlining strategic cooperation in the areas of:
• regional airport infrastructure development,
• cargo logistics and air freight solutions,
• knowledge and technology exchange,
• joint implementation of the Green Airport project in northeastern Poland.
Political foundation: President Duda’s visit to China and bilateral action plan
This partnership builds directly on the Action Plan for Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Poland and the People’s Republic of China (2024–2027), signed during the state visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Beijing in June 2024. During this visit, President Duda held high-level talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji. The plan — officially endorsed by the Government of the Republic of Poland — outlines key areas for bilateral cooperation: economy, trade and investment, green growth, science and innovation, and connectivity, including air transport development and market access.
Historical continuity and bipartisan support
This strategic cooperation also reflects the continuation of Poland’s long-term commitment to building strong economic and infrastructure links with China. The foundations were laid in 2015, when the Government of Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz decided to join the Belt and Road Initiative — a step that was subsequently ratified by the Polish Parliament in 2016. Since then, the initiative has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support from both major political forces in Poland — PO and PiS — under successive governments. The Green Airport project represents the next phase of this consistent policy, translating diplomatic declarations into a tangible, future-oriented infrastructure investment.
Green Airport – Europe’s new gateway for air trade
The Green Airport (“Zambrów, Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland”) project aims to create the most advanced air cargo hub in Central and Eastern Europe, establishing a new air corridor between China and the European Union. This concept builds on the idea of the New Silk Road, but with a strategic shift from rail to air, prioritizing speed, flexibility, and environmental responsibility.
From a technical perspective, Green Airport will feature a 4,000-meter runway capable of handling the world’s largest cargo aircraft and will meet the requirements of an ICAO 4F-category airport. This will allow for unrestricted global air cargo operations, 24/7, under all weather conditions.
The initiative envisions a modern logistics and passenger platform that would serve as a gateway for imported consumer goods from Asia and an outbound corridor for European high-value exports, including technology, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and premium agricultural products.
A word from Karol Halicki, President of the Podlaskie Chamber of Aviation:
“The Green Airport is not just a regional infrastructure project. It is a strategic step toward a new chapter in global trade between Europe and the Far East. Through this partnership with CEICF, we are building a next-generation logistics hub in Poland — one that balances transatlantic flows between the European Union and the United States by opening a dynamic channel to Asia.
This project is about much more than infrastructure. It’s about building economic bridges, sharing innovation, and strengthening long-term trust between Polish and Chinese institutions and businesses. Green Airport will be Europe’s new air gate — where affordable imports arrive and top-quality exports take flight.”
A partner for the future
The agreement was signed by Karol Halicki, President of the Podlaskie Chamber of Aviation, and Yuanping Yu, President of the Management Board of CEICF — a foundation committed to fostering peaceful, long-term partnerships between China and Europe. CEICF plays a role in promoting cross-border collaboration in logistics, innovation, and sustainable development beetwen EU and China.
EU–China Summit 2025: a wider context
The agreement between the Podlaskie Chamber of Aviation and CEICF reflects broader strategic goals emphasized during the 25th EU–China Summit, held in Beijing in July 2025. European leaders, including Council President António Costa and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, called for a more balanced and sustainable economic relationship with China, focusing on open market access, climate cooperation, and resilient supply chains.
Conclusion:
The Letter of Intent signed by the Podlaskie Chamber of Aviation and CEICF is a concrete implementation of the long-term diplomatic and economic vision shared by Poland, China, and the European Union. The Green Airport project may soon emerge as a model of future-oriented, strategic, and sustainable cooperation — delivering real benefits for both sides of Eurasia.
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