Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has said he hopes his upcoming visit to China will help the two countries further lift bilateral ties to a new high and deepen cooperation in various fields.

"Although I have heard a lot and read quite a few books about China, I always believe an old Chinese saying, 'It is better to see once than to hear a hundred times,'" Komorowski, who will start a five-day state visit to China Sunday, told Chinese reporters in a recent interview.

The president, who will be the first Polish head of state to visit China in 14 years, said great changes have taken place in both countries.

"China has witnessed a rapid economic development, as well as an enormous increase of its political clout," he said. "Meanwhile, Poland has become a member of NATO and the European Union and the 20th largest economy in the world."

According to official statistics, the trade volume between Poland and China in 2010 increased 23.8 percent over the previous year to reach a record-high of 11.14 billion U.S. dollars. Poland has been China's largest trade partner in Central and Eastern Europe for the past six years.

During his visit, Komorowski will attend two economic forums to introduce Poland's investment environment and promote its national bonds.

"I hope the talks will yield fruitful results for our long-term cooperation, including not only the cooperation between the economic arms of our governments, but also agreements reached by the two sides' enterprises," he said.

Apart from economic cooperation, cultural exchanges will also be a focus of Komorowski's China visit. His delegation is expected to include 20 university presidents, who will participate in college forums to encourage Chinese students to study in Poland.

"This is also an investment for our future," he said. "If people come into contact with each other as teenagers, the two sides' cooperation and exchanges in the economic, cultural and political areas will be facilitated once they assume their countries' key positions in the future."

The possibility of establishing cultural centers in both countries will also be discussed during Komorowski's visit.

The establishment of the cultural centers can play a long-term role in advancing cultural exchanges between Poland and China, he said.

"Such institutions can naturally arouse interests and good feelings between the two sides," the president said.

He said Poland and China's bilateral exchanges go back a long way, and are key factors in promoting and deepening their cooperation.

Komorowski said he hoped the visit would become a new starting point in advancing cooperation between Poland and China in various fields.

"I also hope the two countries will achieve huge progress in social and economic development together," he said.

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