The visit of Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych to China will be the first state visit of a Ukrainian president to this country, head of the presidential administration Serhiy Liovochkin told journalists in Kyiv on Wednesday.
Yanukovych is traveling to China to intensify the political dialogue with a view to establishing strategic partnerships, increase trade, and promote contacts between the businessmen of the two countries, Liovochkin said.
The visit will last four days. Yanukovych will visit Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. The president will sign a joint statement by the heads of the two states, a roadmap of cooperation for the next two years, and an agreement on cooperation in space technology and in matters related to plant quarantine. According to Liovochkin, the parties will also conclude an agreement about the mutual abolition of visas for certain categories of citizens.
Answering a question from journalists, Liovochkin said that first lady Liudmyla Yanukovych would not accompany her husband during the visit.
"The participation of a spouse is not an obligatory attribute of a state visit," he said.
As reported, Yanukovych is scheduled to leave for China in the evening on September 1.
