KIEV - Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang on Wednesday said China would enhance mutual political trust with Ukraine and expand cooperation in all areas.

During a meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Zhang said China-Ukraine relations were at a new historical starting point and China was ready to step up joint efforts to enhance mutual political trust, enrich their strategic partnership, broaden pragmatic cooperation in various fields and improve the livelihood of both peoples.

Zhang greeted the state leader on behalf of Chinese President Hu Jintao and said bilateral ties between the two countries were based on a profound traditional friendship. Both sides had high respect for each other's core interests and shared each other's major concerns, he said.

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The Chinese side understood and respected the development path chosen by the people of Ukraine in accordance with their national conditions, Zhang said. China supported Ukraine's efforts with respect to its sovereignty, security and social development.

The Chinese vice premier thanked Ukraine for its support on issues concerning China's core interests and expressed his belief that both sides would continue to consolidate the political foundation of China-Ukraine ties.

Yanukovych paid his respects to Hu and expressed his gratitude to China's considerable financial contribution to the Chernobyl projects.

The president highly appreciated the smooth development of bilateral ties and the depth of political dialogue between the two countries. He said he hoped the strategic partnership was not limited to politics, but should also be reflected in economic, technological, military and other areas. He said, through the joint efforts of both sides, Ukraine-China cooperation would rise to a new level.

Zhang also met Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov Wednesday, during which he praised the fruitful cooperation between the two nations in fields such as trade, technology, aerospace and culture.

He also expressed hope that both sides would effectively use the platform of the recently established intergovernmental cooperation commission to expand cooperation on big projects. This would help the two countries boost their partnership in aerospace, culture, education, tourism and agriculture and increase their cooperation, he said.

Azarov spoke highly of the rapid development of China's economy, saying both governments had made every effort to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two nations and maintain close communication in business and industrial cooperation.

Azarov said cooperation with Ukraine in big projects had considerable advantages and Ukraine was willing to step up efforts to boost bilateral ties with China.