Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed bilateral cooperation with Poland and expected to deepen ties under the framework between China and Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs).

Xi made the remarks in a phone conversation with Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Viewing Poland as an important member of the CEEC and the Europe Union (EU), the Chinese president said China values its ties with Poland and is expecting to deepen pragmatic cooperation and strategic communication with the Polish side.

Amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi said that China firmly supports the Polish government and people in combating the COVID-19 epidemic, and is willing to offer vaccines at best of its capacity.

Xi also lauded the great potential in China-CEEC cooperation given the fact that the trips and freight volumes of the China-Europe freight train hit record high in the past year.

He assured his counterpart with more cooperation opportunities under China-CEEC cooperation framework and wished that the completion of investigation negotiation between China and the EU could bring broader space for China-Poland cooperation.

Reviewing the consensus reached during the China-CEEC Summit which was held in early February, Xi said the summit set guidance and provided momentum for further cooperation.

China is ready to work with Poland to take the summit as a new starting point and strive to foster more results for China-CEEC cooperation and China-EU relationship, said the Chinese president.

Duda, for his part, hailed Xi's state visit to Poland in 2016 as it effectively pushed forward the development of the bilateral ties.

Duda highlighted Xi's host of the China-CEEC Summit, saying it is of great importance to the CEEC in terms of economic recovery and multilateral cooperation in post-epidemic era.

The Polish president also spoke highly of China's efforts in making the COVID-19 vaccine a global public good, adding that Poland is willing to deepen cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 with China.

Expressing hopes for the two sides to maintain personnel exchanges and cooperation, Duda assured Xi that Poland will continue contributing to cooperation between China and CEE countries while extended wish to pay a visit to China after the pandemic.

He said he is ready to work with Xi to keep close, maintain friendship exchanges and to work jointly to promote the bilateral ties.