Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma (L) meets with visiting Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at the presidential office in Kiev June 24, 2004.

A visiting senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Thursday in Kiev urged to push forward the friendly ties and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Ukrainian.

Li, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks after meeting on separate occasions with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Chairman of the Supreme Council Vladimir Litvin and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

In the meeting with Kuchma, Li, who flied here Wednesday for an official goodwill visit, said the new Chinese leadership values highly the ties with Ukraine and would join hands with the Ukrainian leaders to deepen the bilateral traditional friendship.

In recent years, the two countries have worked to forge a long-term, stable, comprehensive and cooperative relationship of mutual trust and coordination, scored positive results in the political, economic, scientific, educational and cultural cooperation, and achieved fruitful progress in coordination on major international and regional affairs, Li said.

China respects Ukraine's development road and its domestic and foreign policy, Li said, adding that China supports Ukraine to play a greater role in regional and international affairs and hopes Ukraine will become a member of the World Trade Organization at an early date.

Li also thanked the Ukrainian side for its support for China on the issues of Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

Kuchma said Ukraine regards China as its close friend and strategic partner and feels glad about the great achievements China has scored in recent years.

He said the bilateral extensive cooperation in economic, trade and other fields have offered good foundation and important opportunities for both China and Ukraine develop further their bilateral ties.

Ukraine hopes to forge closer ties with China and strengthen the all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, the president said, adding his country will stick to the one-China policy and continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China on international affairs.

In the meeting with Litvin, Li stressed the importance of the two countries' parliamentary contacts in promoting the state-to-state ties.

China would take a positive attitude in enhancing the friendly contacts and cooperation between the parliaments.

Litvin said that Ukraine has always regarded China as its sincere friend and reliable partner.

In his talks with Yanukovych, Li spoke positively of the breakthrough in the China-Ukraine trade in recent years, saying he hoped the two sides will enhance exchanges and cooperation between the enterprises of the two nations.

Li arrived here Wednesday evening from Kazakhstan. Ukraine is the second leg of his four-nation tour, which will also take him to Greece and France.