Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko and his Georgian counterpart, Mikhail Saakashvili, on Friday signed a declaration in Kiev on the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two former Soviet republics.

During Saakashvili's visit, the two countries also signed an agreement on receiving and handing over illegal immigrants, a memorandum on national security and several trade and economic cooperation programs, Ukrainian media reported Friday.

At a press conference after their talks, Yushchenko said the two countries will jointly submit a scheme of mediating the Dnestrdispute at the meeting of GUUAM member states scheduled for April 22.

GUUAM was formed in 1997 by Ukraine, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova to boost economic ties among them.

Yushchenko added that Ukraine and Georgia's cooperation within the framework of the GUUAM should not be seen as a signal that thetwo countries might withdraw from the Commonwealth of Independent States, a larger cooperation framework for former Soviet republics.

Saakashvili arrived here Thursday for a two-day official visit.

Source: Xinhua