Chinese president meets Ukrainian counterpart

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President Hu Jintao has met his visiting Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovych at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The two leaders agreed to comprehensively upgrade the friendly cooperation between the two countries.

Senior officials, including the country's vice premier and governor of the central bank are travelling with the Ukrainian President.

Hu Jintao said it's been 18 years since the two countries established formal diplomatic ties. President Hu also said that China attaches great importance to ties with Ukraine and is willing to continually enhance bilateral relations through high-level exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

President Yanukovych said Ukraine appreciates China's contribution in helping the region and the world deal with the global financial crisis. He recalled his meeting with Hu Jintao during the Nuclear Security Summit several months ago in Washington. He noted that the Ukrainian government will work closer with China to implement the consensus that the two heads of state reached in Washington.

Hu Jintao said the two sides should make the most of their potential in trade and do their best to raise bilateral trade to 10 billion US dollars by 2012.

After the meeting, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony to activate a series of bilateral agreements.