The energy sector is the most important aspect of interaction within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said.

"We need to expand cooperation in areas related to energy supply, in particular, with regard to establishing a systemic dialog between the CIS Electric Power Council and the European Union of the Electricity Industry, as well as renewable energy sources," he said at a meeting of the Council of the CIS Heads of State in Minsk on Monday.

He said that first and foremost, the issue concerns the development of cooperation in the transportation of energy resources, the reliability of their supply, and the development of clear principles of activity of the participating states in the energy market.

Yanukovych said it was important to hold international conferences, round tables, meetings of sectoral cooperation agencies, and in particular, an international conference on the prospects for the use of alternative and renewable energy sources, as well as a scientific and technical forum on the development of nuclear energy.