Ukraine always China's reliable friend, says president
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on September 14 said that his country will always be a reliable friend of China and that Ukraine will enhance strategic components of bilateral ties in a comprehensive way.
Yanukovych made his comments during a meeting with Wang Yang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong provincial committee. During the meeting, Yanukovych said his recent visit to China was fruitful and had paved the way for upgrading bilateral relations to a strategic level.
Ukrainian officials encourage party-to-party exchanges and want to push forward bilateral cooperation at all levels, Yanukovych said.
Wang said the joint declaration signed by the presidents of the two countries on upgrading bilateral ties opened a new chapter for the two-way relationship. Bilateral cooperation at local levels is also doing well, Wang said, adding that Guangdong was looking to expand trade, investment, hi-tech and cultural ties with Ukraine.
Wang also said that external relations of the CPC was a crucial component of China's overall foreign relations and the CPC wanted to step up party-to-party exchanges with Ukraine.
Wang arrived in Ukraine Saturday at the invitation of the Ukrainian Party of Regions.
Guangdong Party Chief says to Expand Co-op with Ukraine
China's Guangdong Province will expand cooperation with Ukraine in economics, trade, technology and culture, its Party chief Wang Yang on September 13 in a meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
"Guangdong will make its own contributions to the China-Ukraine annual trade target of 10 billion U.S. dollars by 2012," Wang said, recalling Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich's earlier visit to China.
Early in September, Yanukovich held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao during his four-day visit. The two sides agreed to boost economic and parliamentary cooperation as well as increase two-way trade to 10 billion USD by 2012.
"The extensive consensus between top leaders has given a clear direction to the future China-Ukraine ties," said Wang.
Azarov said bilateral cooperation has great potential and a bright future in areas of infrastructure trade and investment, adding that Ukraine will fully implement all the consensus and agreements with China.
The delegation led by Wang arrived in Ukraine on Saturday at the invitation of the Ukrainian Party of Regions. Azarov, also the Party leader, said the Party of Regions attaches great importance to its cooperation with the Communist Party of China (CPC), hoping to learn from the CPC in governing the country.
