Chinese premier meets Ukrainian president

BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych here on Friday.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Beijing on Friday. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li said China and Ukraine had solid mutual trust, and their bilateral relationship had entered a new stage of comprehensive and fast development.

Speaking highly of the talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Yanukovych on Thursday as fruitful, Li said China will work with Ukraine to enhance their mutual political trust, deepen exchanges and cooperation in all areas and push forward their strategic partnership to make greater achievements.

Li said the two countries should give full play to their governmental cooperation committee mechanism, optimize trade structure and increase trade and investment cooperation.

He called on the two sides to advance cooperation programs in areas including agriculture, infrastructure construction and energy, expand cooperation in such areas as finance, credit, technology and aviation, and make closer communication between localities and peoples.

Yanukovych said it is a priority of Ukraine's foreign policy to further deepen the strategic partnership with China.

Ukraine will strengthen communication and coordination with China, improve cooperation mechanism, expand bilateral cooperation in trade, high technology, finance, agriculture and energy, and provide more facility for Chinese investment, he added.

Yanukovych is paying a four-day state visit to China from December 3 to 6, at the invitation of Xi.