China, Ukraine Sign Joint StatementChina and Ukraine will expand all- round cooperation in the new century, said a joint statement signed here Saturday by visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin and his Ukrainian counterpart, Leonid Kuchma.The two sides reached wide range consensus during Jiang's state visit to Ukraine, the statement said. During his visit, Jiang held talks with Kuchma, and met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Anatoly Kinakh and Chairman of the Supreme Council of Ukraine Ivan Plyushch. In the political area, the two sides say they will strictly abide by all political documents signed by the two countries, and make even greater efforts to raise bilateral relations to a higher level, said the statement. Jiang's current visit to Ukraine has injected new vigor to the development of China-Ukraine relations in the new century, it pointed out. The Ukrainian side stresses that it recognizes only one China, and that the government of the People's Republic of China is the only legitimate government of China. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and Ukraine will not establish any official relations with Taiwan, the statement said. China says that it recognizes and respects the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and reiterates the nuclear security assurance China proposed to Ukraine in 1994. In the economic area, the two sides appreciate the work done by the governmental commissions on trade, science and technology and utilizing the space for peaceful purpose. They will, in accordance with market mechanism, improve their business cooperation coordination mechanism and enlarge bilateral trade. They will also conduct cooperation in the hi-tech sector. The two sides will encourage and support institutions and enterprises of the two sides to participate in the construction of major infrastructure and energy projects in both countries and other areas of the world, according to the statement. The two sides will also hold trade and business meetings and exhibitions in both countries. In the international area, the statement said the two sides firmly believe that a modern world order should be based on the fact that each country has the right to choose its own path of development. Multi-polarity will help contribute to the democratization of international relations and world peace and stability, it said. The two sides reaffirm that they hold identical or similar views on major international and regional issues, and therefore will strengthen their close cooperation within the United Nations and other international organizations. Both sides agree that the United Nations plays an important role in promoting common development and prosperity. They support the drive to improve the efficiency and functions of the U.N. as well as to strengthen the role of the world body as a core mechanism in international relations. The two sides hold that the Treaty on the Limitation of Anti- Ballistic Missile Systems (ABM), signed in 1972, is related to the strategic stability and security of the world, and is still the basis of international agreements on the reduction and limitation of aggressive strategic weapons. Jiang invited Kuchma to pay a state visit to China and Kuchma accepted the invitation. The specific time of the visit will be decided through diplomatic channel. |
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