The Chinese leadership and the government are willing to work with the Ukrainian side in advancing the Sino-Ukraine comprehensive relations of friendly cooperation in a healthy and steady way, a senior Chinese official told new Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko on Sunday.

Lu Yongxiang, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, was in Kiev as Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy for Yushchenko's inauguration.

Lu conveyed Hu's congratulations to Yushchenko on his inauguration. He said the Chinese leaders and the government attached great importance to relations with Ukraine and would work with the country to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various fields.

He also expressed the hope that the two countries continue to support each other on such important issues as national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Yushchenko thanked Hu for sending an envoy to his inauguration and said his country appreciated China's consistent support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He said his country would stick to its one-China policy.

The new president said he admired China's achievements in economic reform and opening up to the outside world, and pledged efforts to strengthen cooperation with China.

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2005)