Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Tuesday his country would always be a reliable friend for China and would enhance strategic components of bilateral ties in a comprehensive way.

He made the comments during a meeting with Wang Yang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong provincial committee.

Yanukovych said his recent visit to China was fruitful and had paved the way for ungrading bilateral relations to a strategic level.

Ukraine was willing to work with China to enhance bilateral mechanisms, put into force the consensus and agreements between the two countries, encourage party-to-party exchanges, and push forward bilateral cooperation at all levels and across all areas, he said.

Wang said the joint declaration signed by the presidents of the two countries on upgrading bilateral ties had opened a new chapter for the two-way relationship.

Bilateral cooperation at local levels was also doing well, he said, adding that Guangdong Province was looking to expand trade, investment, hi-tech and cultural ties with Ukraine.

Wang said the external relations of the CPC was a crucial component of China's overall foreign relations, and the CPC wanted to step up party-to-party exchange with Ukraine.

Wang arrived in Ukraine Saturday at the invitation of the Ukrainian Party of Regions.