国内英语新闻:China, Ukraine stage trade forum, explore business co-op

BEIJING, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- More than 300 Chinese and Ukrainian officials, business executives and traders gathered at a trade forum Friday to seek bilateral business opportunities.
"As China and Ukraine enjoy excellent prospects for economic and trade cooperation, both countries should make joint efforts to usher in a new era," Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang said at the opening of the forum.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich, in Beijing on his first ever visit to China, addressed the forum, saying the new Ukrainian administration gives priority to developing ties with China.

Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang (L) addresses the China-Ukraine economic and trade cooperation forum in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2010.

China-Ukraine trade topped 3.3 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of the year, up 31.3 percent year on year, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

In their talks Thursday, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Yanukovich promised to increase two-way trade to 10 billion U.S. dollars by 2012.

To expand bilateral business potential, Zhang proposed companies in the two countries play a bigger role while both governments increase exchange, explore ways to cooperate, take care of each other's concerns, and seek mutually beneficial outcomes.

Yanukovich, the first Ukrainian President to visit China since 2002, echoed Zhang's proposal.

He said his country would like to work more closely with China in trade, economics, agriculture, science, aviation, aerospace and investment.

Zhang said the Chinese government welcomes Ukrainian businesses developing and marketing products tailored to the Chinese market.