KYIV, April 17 – Ukraine’s Prime Minister Anatoly Kinakh and President of South Korea’s International Trade Association Kim Jae-Chul discussed bilateral ties and improving business cooperation on Tuesday.
Jae-Chul arrived in Kyiv Monday to enlist Ukraine’s support in naming South Korea the host of the world exhibition EXPO 2010. Kinakh assured South Korea that it has Ukraine’s support, according to Interfax news agency. Earlier Tuesday, Jae-Chul met with Ukrainian parliament members, Foreign Minister Anatoly Zlenko, and Chamber of Commerce officials.
Kinakh said that Ukraine is “seriously interested” in cooperation with South Korea, especially in implementing structural reforms. “We have all grounds to strengthen the foundation of trust, level of economic ties … and to maximize favorable conditions for cooperation among Ukrainian and South Korean businessmen,” Kinakh said. Since establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Ukraine and South Korea have signed several agreements to facilitate trade.
South Korean industrial conglomerate Daewoo has invested heavily in Ukraine’s automobile manufacturing and machine-building industries. Trade volume between the two countries was dlrs 370 million last year, according to a statement by Ukraine’s foreign ministry. Kinakh also offered his condolences to victims of the recent crash of a Chinese jetliner in South Korea.
