Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, center, walks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao as they inspect a guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010. AP Chinese President Hu Jintao has said he is confident that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's visit to China will bring the two countries to a higher level of bilateral relations.

"I am deeply convinced that your current visit will serve as a strong impetus to the further strengthening of mutual understanding and friendship between China and Ukraine, and bring our relations of friendship and cooperation to a higher level," he said at a meeting with Yanukovych in Beijing on Thursday.

He noted that China appreciated the Ukrainian president's position that cooperation with China is a priority for Kyiv.

The Chinese leader noted that Yanukovych had expressed such a position before his inauguration as president.

"I very much value this time and hours of communication with you," Hu Jintao said.

He welcomed the Ukrainian president on behalf of the Chinese government and the Chinese people.

Yanukovych, in turn, said that Ukraine "has been looking for many years with great interest and goodwill how you [China] are developing a modern and strong country." Yanukovych is in China 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 in 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.