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In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Hu Jintao, right, meets with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Friday June 26. AP Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has confirmed an official invitation to the Chinese president to pay an official visit to Ukraine.

"Ukraine is expecting him. We proposed a program for this visit, and we'd like the Chinese side to consider it," he said at a meeting with Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Wang Gang in Kyiv on Thursday.

Yushchenko said that China had guaranteed Ukraine's security when the country gave up its nuclear weapons.

"Calls are currently being made on the international arena regarding the improvement of international commitments on reducing strategic arms," he said, adding that the issue concerns talks between the United States and Russia.