You're reading: Zelensky, Chinese President Xi Jinping hold first telephone conversation

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a telephone conversation with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, the presidential press service reports.

“President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the President of the People’s Republic of China on behalf of the people of Ukraine for the supply of vaccines against coronavirus,” according to the President’s Office website.

“These vaccines have saved lives of many Ukrainians,” Zelensky said.

He called China “Ukraine’s No. 1 trade and economic partner in the world.”

Zelensky also stressed the importance of the participation of Chinese investors in the implementation of a number of projects to develop the infrastructure of seaports, the construction and modernization of roads, the development of railways and urban infrastructure.

The President confirmed his interest in increasing Ukrainian exports to China and expanding cooperation in the processing of agricultural products.

In addition, Zelensky expressed hope that Ukraine can become “a bridge to Europe for Chinese business.”

The President of the People’s Republic of China, in turn, noted the importance of the presidential project Big Construction and expressed China’s readiness to cooperate in this direction.

“Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the invariability of Ukraine’s position on the issue of unified China. The President of the People’s Republic of China, in turn, stressed that China respects the path of independence chosen by the Ukrainian people, and supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the presidential press service said.

The Presidents exchanged invitations to pay visits at a convenient time.

The last contact between the leaders of Ukraine and China was in January 2017, when fifth President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with the Chinese President in Davos (Switzerland).