Ukrainian experts have said the relationship between Ukraine and China will improve after Viktor Yanukovich, the winner of Ukraine's presidential election, takes office.

"The foreign policy of Ukraine led by Yanukovich will move from his predecessor's unilateralism to a policy of maximum cooperation and good relations with the leading countries in the world, including China," Vladimir Seminozhenko, the head of the "Ukrainian Forum," said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

He said a series of important meetings were held at the "Ukrainian Forum" recently -- for instance, talks with the ambassador of China to Ukraine, and with representatives of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

"Now it is time to change the foreign policy of Ukraine and, of course, a very important role will be given to the Ukrainian-Chinese relations," said Seminozhenko.

"I believe that the Ukrainian-Chinese ties have a very promising future," he added.

Mykola Shulga, deputy director of the Institute of Sociology of Ukraine's National Academy of Sciences, believed that Ukraine and China should develop bilateral relations as much as possible.

Shulga said the two countries needed to step up cooperation in all spheres, especially in industry, science and technology, trade and culture.

He also expressed confidence in the improvement of the relationship between Ukraine and China after Yanukovich comes to power.

Shulga said China is "a huge state with a huge number of people and operates as a well-oiled machine."

"Ukraine should not only learn experience from the Western countries, but also benefit from the experience of China in organizing the state and public life," said Shulga.

Yanukovich, the Ukrainian opposition leader, beat Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Sunday's presidential run-off by a small margin with more than 99 percent of the ballots counted. However, Tymoshenko has threatened to challenge the results of the run-off vote.