According to Macierewicz, the New Silk Road project threatens to cost Poland its national independence, Kalita said.
The Lodz railway terminal was to receive trains with Chinese goods en route to EU countries.
The first freight train from China to Barking has just started its journey along the "new silk road" https://t.co/fzhPLhRHGo #Transport pic.twitter.com/h1QepV1mcy
— The London Economic (@LondonEconomic) 6 января 2017 г.
Kalita recalled that the main principle of the country's development is to expand its infrastructure as well as communication and trade routes with other countries, which in turn contributes to regional development.
In this vein, he called China, India, Turkey, Iran, "and, of course, Russia" the most important partners for European countries. He said Europe has no chance remaining afloat if it doesn't work with these players to facilitate the free movement of goods.
New map showing key projects on the new Silk Road — this one moves https://t.co/YZvKHkd8XO pic.twitter.com/0MCrqKYE6D
— FT Special Reports (@ftreports) 14 сентября 2016 г.
"Free trade reduces the military threat level, but our Defense Minister claims the opposite, allegedly expressing concern about national security. History teaches us that most wars were unleashed after some prohibited others to carry goods and trade relations collapsed. But it seems that our Defense Minister doesn't know anything about that, judging by his strange statement," Kalita said.
He added that the Polish Defense Minister's "dangerous" remarks about the alleged dangers of trade are irrational in their essence.
"I believe that first of all, we need to develop contacts with our immediate neighbors, and then — with the rest of the world, which will add significantly to our country's security. We need to be one of the elements of the common system rather than proclaim our individualistic political ideas in such a strange way, something that has more than once led to Poland losing its independence," Kalita said.
He also said that he is very much surprised about the Polish Defense Minister failing to understand "such simple things" and "apparently, the problems of global politics."
The project is intended to connect China with Europe and strengthen economic ties between Asia, Europe and the Gulf states.
Never miss a story again — sign up to our Telegram channel and we'll keep you up to speed!
