WARSAW, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Polish energy company PGNiG on Thursday signed a 24-year contract to buy liquefied gas (LNG) from the United States in Warsaw, Poland.

As the presence of Poland's President Andrzej Duda and U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry, PGNiG signed the landmark contract with the U.S. firm Cheniere Marketing International. The first deliveries are planned in 2019.

"Poland wants to, and does cooperate very closely with the United States in the area of security ... Diversification of energy sources is important for Poland and for Europe", Duda said, following the signature.

He also said that further actions in this field are to come and will increase the security of not only Poland, but the whole central Europe.

Perry said that the diversification of energy sources increased the strength of the Polish economy and PGNiG-Cheniere partnership was an example for Europe of how to diversify energy sources and improve energy security.

Local media reported that under the new contract, Poland expects to import 29.5 million tones of American LNG over 24 years. The supplies will be delivered to Poland's new LNG terminal in Swinoujscie, northwestern Poland.

PGNiG is further planning to sign two new contracts for the delivery of U.S. LNG as a part of the country's goal of energy supply diversification.