Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Ukraine's President President Viktor Yanukovich, left, toasts with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao during a signing ceremony of the two countries in the Great Hall of the People Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 in Beijing. AP Ukraine has secured a $950 million loan from China to build a railway link between Kiev and the capital's main airport and has hired a Chinese company for the project, the Chinese People's Daily newspaper said on Friday.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, who arrived in China on Thursday for a state visit -- the first by a Ukrainian leader -- has already signed the loan agreement.

During the visit "an agreement was ... signed securing China's credit support to a 30-kilometre railway project and construction of auxiliary facilities for an airport in Ukraine's capital, Kiev," the newspaper said.


Ukraine's President President Viktor Yanukovich, second right, attends a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao in the Great Hall of the People Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 in Beijing.

"The railway project, contracted to a Chinese firm, will cost $950 million and construction will begin next year," it said, adding that the project would take three years to complete.