"Thirty years ago, the Republic of Belarus declared its independence as a sovereign state," the Polish foreign ministry said in a statement.
"That same day, 27 December 1991, Poland immediately recognised Belarus, fully acknowledging the Belarusian people’s right and aspirations to freely and independently decide their own fate," it added.
Because of its historical experience, Poland "understands all too well the importance of having an independent state of one’s own as well as the effort it requires to build one," the statement said.
It added that "good neighbourly relations have always been a cornerstone of Polish foreign policy" and that as bilateral relations developed "Poland has been guided by a spirit of respect for the Belarusian state and its people."
The Polish foreign ministry said on its website that Poland "will always stand behind our Belarusian friends, both those who have decided to remain in their motherland and those who have been forced into what we strongly believe is only a temporary emigration."
"On the 30th anniversary of Belarus’s independence, we wish to extend our assurances that Poland will continue to stand by the people of Belarus," the statement also said.
"We will work together to ensure their desire for democratic transformation is respected and to help them build an independent Belarusian state, our friend and neighbour," it added.