Warsaw (AFP)

The Polish foreign minister on Monday urged China to increase its investment in Central Europe and remove its tariff barriers as its Chinese counterpart seeks assurances that its 5G technology interests Warsaw.

The arrest for espionage of a former director Huawei in January in Poland had made the Chinese technology giant fear that this Eastern European country, closely linked to Washington, does not wish to deploy its 5G technology on its territory.

The United States has banned Huawei from installing 5G equipment on its ground, citing risks to their national security.

"China is investing heavily in Europe, but only 5% of EU investment goes to Central and Eastern European countries," Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz told a joint press conference with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Warsaw.

"I encouraged the (Chinese) minister to invest more, in the interests of our society (...) in Poland and Central Europe," said Czaputowicz, also calling on Beijing to "eliminate the barriers" customs and to "open up" more to imports from his country but also from other European countries.

He pointed out, however, the rise in exports of Polish agricultural products to China.

For his part, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said he was assured that Warsaw would consider Beijing's bid for the deployment of 5G.

"Today, I have been assured by the minister that Poland will have an honest, non-discriminatory and fair approach to companies engaged in the development of 5G," Wang Yi said, according to an official translation.

The United States banned US telecommunications networks from acquiring equipment from foreign companies deemed to be at risk, a measure targeting Huawei, China's telecommunications giant.

The firm, headquartered in Shenzen, southern China, has long been in the crosshairs of US authorities, suspected of espionage in favor of Beijing that would have largely contributed to its spectacular international expansion.

The United States has never provided evidence - at least publicly - to support these accusations, but they urge their allies to do without Huawei's infrastructure.

Europe is also divided on this subject. Germany and Britain have accepted Huawei's participation in the construction of their network, but other countries, such as the Czech Republic, have issued warnings.

? 2019 AFP