Visiting top adviser Jia Qinglin left Simferopol, the capital of Ukraine's autonomous republic of Crimea, on Friday for Beijing after an official goodwill visit to Ukraine, thus winding up his four-nation Europe tour.

 

During his visit to Ukraine, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held talks separately with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, Chairman of the Supreme Council Olexander Morozand Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

 

At the meetings in Kiev, the two sides agreed that China and Ukraine had deepened their mutual understanding and trust while fostering the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

 

Over the past 14 years, the cooperation between the two countries had been broadened and deepened with fruitful results in the areas of economy, trade, science and technology, the leaders of China and Ukraine said.

 

Jia also reiterated that China would continue to implement its fixed policy of developing long-term, stable and comprehensive relations with Ukraine.

 

Next year will be the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ukraine and China. China was willing to work jointly with Ukraine to raise their bilateral ties to a new level, said Jia, the leader of the CPPCC, China's top advisory body.

 

The Chinese top adviser told the Ukrainian leaders that he hoped both sides would strengthen contacts and exchanges at various levels, deepen mutual trust, and lay a solid political foundation for development of bilateral ties.

 

He believed that the two countries would be able to further enhance specific cooperative ventures in the economic and trade areas, and put into effect those fixed agreements and endorsed projects.

 

Jia also expressed China's desire to broaden exchange and cooperation in the areas of culture, education, tourism, sports and journalism, and encouraged both sides to have closer contact so as to consolidate the social foundation of amity between the two countries.

 

The Chinese CPPCC leader started his five-day visit to the East European country on Monday. On Thursday, he also met local leaders of Crimea on regional cooperation.

 

Ukraine is the last leg of Jia's four-nation Europe tour from October 22 to November 3, which has taken him to Britain, Lithuania and Estonia.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2006)