Poles from around the globe will gather in Warsaw on Friday for the first World Polish Congress.

The event will see people of Polish origin who live in countries including the United States, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, Belarus and Germany gathering at the Royal Castle in Warsaw.

They will discuss key issues for Poland and Polish emigrants, including the economy and education reform.

The motto of the event is "strategy for Poland beyond divisions."

Stefan Hambura, President of the World Polish Congress association, said Poles living in and outside the country together number 60 million people.

“This group has not cooperated up to now, it was divided into ‘Poles’ and ‘Poles abroad.’ But we think that we are all together."

Poland's population is around 39 million.

The congress starts at 10:30am and finishes in the afternoon. Future congresses are to take place in different parts of the world.

(pk/gs)

Source: IAR