A reception was held in Beijing on Wednesday to mark the 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ukraine.

 

Addressing the reception, Chen Haosu, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), said China and Ukraine enjoy traditional friendship and long-term cultural exchanges.

 

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties in January of 1992, the two countries had made great achievements in developing bilateral ties, he said.

 

The Chinese government highly values its relations with Ukraine, and appreciates its support on the issues such as Taiwan, Tibet and human rights, Chen said, adding China also respects Ukraine's efforts in maintaining national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

 

CPAFFC has maintained good cooperative ties with friendly organizations of Ukraine, he said, pledging to actively promote non-governmental exchanges between the two countries as well as bilateral trade cooperation.

 

Sergei Alekseevich Kamyshev, Ukrainian ambassador to China, said his country values its relations with China, and both sides are ready to further cement such ties.

 

Ukraine always sticks to the one-China policy and it will remain unchanged, the ambassador said.

 

Senior Chinese legislator Uyunqimg and former Ukrainian President Leonid Makarovich Kravchuk attended the reception.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 25, 2007)