Former Polish president and Solidarnosc founder Lech Walesa will head a delegation to Malta on Tuesday, The Sunday Times has learnt. 

The former trade union leader will be meeting President Eddie Fenech Adami and Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this week to lobby for Malta's support for the city of Wroclaw's bid to host the 2012 Expo exhibition. He is also expected to meet President Emeritus Guido de Marco.

Mr Walesa, one of the 20th century's greatest political and social figures, played a huge role in bringing about the collapse of communism in Poland and eastern Europe and in ending the Cold War.

He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and in 1989 successfully negotiated the introduction of Poland's first free elections, which brought about the end of communist rule in the country.

Throughout the 1980s he was strongly supported by Pope John Paul II, a fellow Pole, in his struggle for democracy in Poland. In 1990, he was elected President stepping down five years later after losing to a former communist.

The Expo exhibition is often used by the host country or region to brand itself. Just as the Expo '92 in Barcelona was used to portray Spain as a modern democratic EU country, the Polish government is hoping that a successful bid by the city of Wroclaw to host the Expo 2012 will do the same for Poland.

Other members of the visiting delegation include leading officials of the city of Wroclaw and members of the committee organising the bid.