Visiting top adviser Jia Qinglin met with Ukrainian leaders in Kiev Tuesday to discuss Sino-Ukrainian bilateral relations, a spokesman for the Chinese delegation of Jia's visit said on Wednesday.

 

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), had met with Chairman of Ukraine's Supreme Council Olexander Moroz, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and President Viktor Yushchenko, said spokesman Wang Donghua.

 

Both sides agreed that China and Ukraine had deepened their mutual understanding and trust while fostering the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

 

Over the past 14 years, the cooperation between the two countries had been broadened and deepened with fruitful results in the areas of economy, trade, science and technology, the leaders of Ukraine and China said during their meetings in Kiev.

 

Jia reiterated that China would continue to implement its fixed policy of developing long-term, stable and comprehensive relations with Ukraine.

 

Next year will be the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and China.

 

China was willing to work jointly with Ukraine to raise their bilateral ties to a new level, said Jia, the leader of the CPPCC, China's top advisory body, and he suggested that both sides expand their contacts and exchanges at various levels.

 

The two countries would be able to further enhance specific cooperative ventures in the economic and trade areas, and put into effect those fixed agreements and endorsed projects, Jia said.

 

He also expressed China's desire to broaden exchange and cooperation in the areas of culture, education, tourism, sports and journalism, to encourage both sides to have closer contact so as to consolidate the social foundation of amity between the two countries.

 

Jia started his visit to the East European country on October 30 and is expected to leave for Beijing on November 3.

 

Ukraine is the last leg of Jia's four-nation Europe tour from October 22 to November 3, which has taken him to Britain, Lithuania and Estonia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2006)