Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

President Viktor Yanukovych and government officials on Sept. 2 began a 3-day official visit to China. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych arrived in Beijing on Thursday and started his state visit to China and an official visit to Hong Kong, the presidential press service has reported.

The visit is taking place at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao and is aimed at intensifying the Ukrainian-Chinese dialog at the highest level, bringing bilateral relations to the level of a strategic partnership, establishing the basis for the further development of bilateral cooperation in all areas, and intensifying cooperation in promising economic branches, trade and investment, the press service said.

On September 2-3, the president will visit Beijing, where he is planning to conduct talks with 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.

Yanukovych will also speak at a Ukrainian-Chinese business forum. In addition, he will pass a facsimile copy of the Peresopnytsia Gospels to the National Library of China.

Yanukovych will visit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China on September 4 and Shanghai on September 5.

During his visit to Hong Kong, the head of state is expected to hold talks with Chief Executive of Hong Kong Donald Tsang. Yanukovych will also participate in a business lunch with leading businessmen in Hong Kong, inspect the port, including container terminals, and visit the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

A number of bilateral documents are to be signed during the visit.