If the food's anything to go by, Poland hits the mark

"Poland has a high-quality education system too, and is ranked top in Central Eastern Europe for its results. The Polish language is difficult to grasp, though, so it is not a popular place for Chinese students," said the 28-year-old from Guangdong province.

"But if you do come here, you will absolutely love the academic environment and the classic European culture," he added with a smile.

Sui works part-time as a guide, but full-time for a Polish telecommunication company, which he said has been feeling the growing competition from Chinese counterparts such as Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and ZTE Corp, although he insisted his local employer was still ahead by market share.

Some of China's biggest financial heavyweights already have a presence in Poland, such as Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, but their operations are still on small scale, and they are only edging their way into a market which is still largely unknown to Chinese industry.

Poland's central and local governments have issued a series of preferential policies to attract foreign investment. And as an advanced economic gateway into Europe, geographically it is most certainly a viable market in its own right, with a population of 38.5 million.

But where it has fallen down in the past for many potential investors, including those from China, is the availability of information or advice on local laws and regulations, especially its unique and complicated taxation system.

However, that could be changing.

Poland's government has been publicly supporting the Belt and Road Initiative, given the Chengdu-Lodz rail route forms part of it, and has become a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Deputy mayor Cieslak was part of a 70-strong ministerial and business delegation led by the Polish foreign minister to China last week to seek more investment.

More than anything else, Chinese companies investing overseas demand exhaustive information on any location they might be considering.

That could range from the obvious such as on the economy, to culture, government policies, local initiatives, even the food and music.

From my personal experience in Poland, I would certainly recommend it as a vacation destination. And I will now be keeping a closer watch on what success Cieslak and his compatriots enjoy in attracting Chinese investment.

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