Ukraine, China outline main principles of strategic partnership

Ukraine and China have declared the establishment of strategic partnership and signed a memorandum of understanding in the energy sector and an agreement regulating the provision of 80 million yuan ($12.3 million) in assistance to Ukraine.

Ukrainian and Chinese Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Hu Jintao signed a joint declaration on the establishment and development of strategic partnership relations between Ukraine and China in Kyiv on Monday.

The document foresees the establishment of strategic partnership relations and outlines the main principles of such partnership.

In particular, the issue concerns mutual support for state sovereignty and territorial integrity, respect for the path of development chosen by each state, the mutual non-use of force or threat of force, economic or other pressures, as well as the strengthening of a high-level political dialog.

The declaration also describes the activities of the commission on cooperation, priority areas in bilateral cooperation, the expansion of cooperation within the UN, and joint efforts to promote peace, stability and security in the world and certain regions.

In addition, China undertakes not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine as a non-nuclear weapon state.

In addition, the sides signed a memorandum of understanding in the energy sector between the Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry and China's National Energy Administration.

The document also sets out such core areas of cooperation as joint participation in the implementation of projects in the oil and gas sector, exchange of information about energy facilities that are to be built or upgraded in the two countries, and cooperation in the sphere of the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the framework and in line with the existing treaties.

Cooperation will be carried out within the framework of a joint working group on energy, or in any other format agreed by the parties.

Kyiv and Beijing also signed an agreement regulating the provision of 80 million yuan ($12.3 million) in assistance to Ukraine.

An agreement on technical and economic cooperation between the governments of China and Ukraine was signed in Kyiv on Monday in the presence of the two presidents.

The parties also signed an intergovernmental agreement on the creation of Ukraine's consulate general in Guangzhou.

The signing of the agreement will help expand Ukraine's diplomatic presence in one of the most economically developed regions in China, deepen regional cooperation between Guangdong Province and Ukrainian regions, ensure the protection of Ukrainian individuals and companies in this region, as well as facilitate the provision of consular services to Chinese citizens wishing to visit Ukraine .