President Hu Jintao met with Vladimir Litvin, chairman of the Ukrainian Supreme Council, Tuesday and vowed to further bilateral ties despite the changing political situation. 

"We support Ukraine's efforts to safeguard its national independence, sovereignty and territory integrity and respect the Ukrainian people's own decision on the manner of development," Hu said.

China will unswervingly carry out a friendly policy toward Ukraine in spite of the changing international situation, Hu said. China will, on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, deepen traditional friendship and enhance exchanges and cooperation with Ukraine in all sectors so as to promote bilateral ties to a new high.

The Chinese president hailed the development of Sino-Ukrainian ties, saying that he appreciated Ukraine's adherence to the one-China policy on the Taiwan question. The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

Litvin said that Ukraine will continue to stick to the one-China policy and strictly abide by its commitments on the Taiwan question listed in all the Ukraine-China political documents.

"Ukraine supports the Chinese people's reunification cause," he said when referring to the Taiwan question.

Litvin suggested the two countries would enhance exchanges and cooperation between the two parliaments, the Ukrainian Supreme Council and the National People's Congress, and expand cooperation between the two countries in all fields.

The Ukrainian parliament chief has visited several Chinese cities and met with other Chinese leaders including Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC's Standing Committee, and Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2005)