Conference “Africa and South-South Cooperation” organized by Crans Montana Forum took place on 15-19 March 2018 in Dahla (Western Sahara), the only place in the whole world, which is defined by international law as “unregulated territory”. This event, which was held under the patronage of Mohammed VI - the king of Morocco was attended by over 3500 participants from all over the world. The CIR was represented by Agnieszka Ostrowska - our project manager.

The economic situation in Poland and Europe is very good, but we cannot sleep well. Polish entrepreneurs should be concerned about the government’s social expenses, differences in Euro vs. Dollar exchange rate, and tensions on the EU-US line. People reluctantly invest their money in such times, without investments there won’t be real economic growth - said Professor Marek Belka during the debate: “The Entrepreneur in the Changing World” which was moderated today in Poznań by Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska- president of the CIR. The second meeting with prof. Marek Belka within cycle organized by BGŻ Paribas Bank with the partnership of CIR and the WKB law firm was held on 28th February 2018 in Warsaw.

Hong Kong offers Polish companies privileged access to continental China - said Betty Ho, the director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Berlin during “The New Silk Road connects Hong Kong and Poland” conference, which was held today in the headquarters of the Polish Chamber of Commerce with participation of Polish businessmen, public administration and local governments. The Center for International Relations was represented by Małgorzata Bonikowska Ph. D., the President of the CIR.

The Embassy of Chinese People’s Republic to Warsaw on 22th February organized the official ceremony on Celebration of Chinese New Year. Małgorzata Bonikowska Ph. D., director of the CIR participated in this event. This year’s celebration of Chinese New Year began on 15th February and lasted seven days. That is why banks, offices and shops were closed at that time. Despite the fact that Chinese calendar which was launched on 2nd century BC, was replaced by the Gregorian Calendar in 1912 - Chinese New Year is still one of the most important feasts for residents of “Middle Kingdom”. Each of the twelve animals belonging to the zodiac’s signs symbolizes are given a year, which is also influenced by one of the five Chinese elements. This New Year for Chinese people will be the year of Yang Earth Dog!

Nowadays, India is today one of the emerging powers that will exert growing influence on global economy and policy - said experts during the seminar organized by Polish Institute of International Relations combined with the presentation of the report: “India in the reform process: opportunities for Poland”. Prof. Piotr Kłodkowski (Jagiellonian University, former Polish Ambassador to India), Małgorzata Bonikowska Ph. D. (president of the CIR), J.J Singh (Polish-Indian Chamber of Industry and Commerce), Patryk Kugiel (Polish Institute of International Relations). The meeting was moderated by Justyna Szczudlik (Manager of Asia-Pacific program in Polish Institute of International Relations).

The 54th Security Conference in Munich took place on 16-18 February. It gathered political leaders and experts from around the world. Poland was represented by its Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki. They were talking on the meeting inter alia about the role of European Union in the world and its relations with USA and Russia, threats to the global world and armed conflicts. The Center for International Relations was represented there by Janusz Reiter, chairman of the Council of the CIR Foundation.

The Center for International Relations (CIR) together with THINKTANK and Business Link Poland organized the next meeting from the cycle: “Globalization”. This debate was held under the patronage of “Citi Handlowy” bank as part of the project: “AIP Business Startup”. Special guest of this event was: Dr. Daniel S. Hamilton, executive director of the Center for Transatlantic Relations at John Hopkins’ University in the USA and executive director of the American Consortium for Studies in European Union. During the meeting, we have talked about the current political situation affects the US economy and about what influence would have Donald Trump’s presidency on investment and trade agreements in which the US take part or will take in the nearest future.