Press Release: State visit of the President of Ukraine to People's Republic of China and official visit to Hong Kong

On September 1-5, 2010 President of Ukraine will make a state visit to the People’s Republic of China and the official visit to the Special Administrative Region of China Hong Kong.

The visit is made at the invitation of Hu Jintao, Leader of China and is aimed at further intensification of Ukrainian-Chinese dialogue at the highest level, bringing Ukrainian-Chinese relations at the level of strategic partnership, laying political foundation for further development of bilateral cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, and reaching agreements with the PRC to intensify cooperation in promising sectors of economy, as well as trade and investment area.

On September 2-3, President of Ukraine will visit Beijing, where he is scheduled to conduct comprehensive talks with President Hu Jintao and meet with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Wu Bangguo and Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Wen Jiabao. In the course of these meetings, a broad range of questions of cooperation will be discussed.

The President will also take part in the Ukrainian-Chinese business forum for leading businessmen of Ukraine and China.

In addition, President Yanukovych will take part in the ceremony of presenting facsimile of the Peresopnytsya Gospel to the National Library of China.

President Yanukovych will visit Hong Kong on September 4 and Shanghai on September 5.

In Hong Kong, President Yanukovych will conduct talks with Chief Executive and President of the Executive Council of the Government of Hong Kong Sir Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen. In addition, the President will take part in a business lunch with Hong Kong leading businessmen, visit Hong Kong's ports and stock exchange.

While in Shanghai, the President of Ukraine will visit Ukrainian and Chinese pavilions at the International Exhibition "Expo 2010", and Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. research center – one of the world leaders in telecommunications equipment, where he will meet with company’s management.

During the visit of the President of Ukraine to China, a number of bilateral documents aimed at deepening cooperation and implementation of concrete projects are scheduled to be signed, including:

1. Joint statement on development of Chinese-Ukrainian friendship and cooperation (signed by the Heads of State);

2. Roadmap of Ukrainian-Chinese relations for 2010-2012 (signed by Ministers of Foreign Affairs);

3. Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the People's Republic of China on cooperation in plants protection and quarantine;

4. Program of Ukrainian-Chinese cooperation in exploring and using outer space for peaceful purposes for 2011-2015;

5. Protocol between the State Customs Service of Ukraine and State Customs Administration of the People's Republic of China on mutual assistance in validating the declared value of goods;

6. Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of China to provide free assistance the Government of Ukraine;

7. Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of Hong Kong on mutual cancelation of visas;

8. Agreement between the State Customs Service of Ukraine and the Department of Customs Duties and Excise of Hong Kong on cooperation and mutual administrative assistance in customs matters.

During the visit, the Ukrainian side expects to reach agreements on attracting investments and technological capabilities of China and its administrative units to modernization of the Ukrainian economy, infrastructure development, launching of major joint projects, particularly in preparation for Euro 2012 in Ukraine and decisions on expanding opportunities for access of Ukrainian goods, services and technologies to the Chinese market with a view to increasing bilateral trade.

Background: In 2009 the volume of bilateral trade between Ukraine and China declined by 32.2% compared with 2008 and amounted to $4.17 billion. However, Ukrainian exports grew by 61.8% compared with 2008 (mainly due to growth of exports of ferrous metals and ores) and reached $1.43 billion, while imports fell nearly 2.5 times compared with 2008 and amounted to $2.73 billion. The negative trade balance reduced from over $5 billion to $1.3 billion in 2009.

In January-June 2010, the turnover between Ukraine and China grew by 22.3% compared to the same period of 2009 and reached $2.34 billion. Ukrainian exports were worth $495.6 million (-39.2%) and imports from China were worth $1.84 billion. The negative trade balance of the first six months of 2010 totaled $1.35 billion.

It is also planned that a number of political and humanitarian agreements will be signed, particularly on preparation of the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and China, intensification of bilateral contacts at the highest level, intensification of educational exchanges, etc.

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Press Release: State visit of the President of Ukraine to People's Republic of China and official visit to Hong Kong

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