Ukrainian leader forecasts trade growth with China

The Ukrainian Prime Minister, Valeriy Pustovoytenko, has said his country will seek to increase its trade with the Asia/Pacific markets, especially China.

Speaking to business executives in Beijing, Mr Pustovoytenko was reported by the Chinese news agency, Xinhua, to have forecast that trade between the two countries would at least double in the next three years.

The agency quoted the Chinese Prime Minister, Li Peng, as saying that the economies of Ukraine and China were complementary.

They signed a joint declaration on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation, during the Ukrainian leader's visit. .

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service