Ukrainian, Turkish leaders eye closer economic, trade ties
KYIV, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) — Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych met Thursday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to exchange views on ways to boost bilateral economic and trade cooperation.
“Our main goal is not only to declare, but truly fill our relationship with specific projects,” Yanukovych said during a second meeting of the Ukrainian-Turkish Strategic Cooperation Council here.
Yanukovych said the two countries had forged a comprehensive strategic partnership and achieved fruitful cooperation in areas such as tourism and trade in recent years.
The Ukrainian president proposed the two nations step up bilateral cooperation to a higher level in sectors such as the space industry, the military-industrial complex and transport.
Yanukovych also called for joint efforts with Ankara to push forward free trade area negotiations.
Erdogan said Ukraine and Turkey shared great potential to promote cooperation in the energy sphere.
“We know that energy issues are very important for Ukraine, so we want to develop bilateral cooperation in the energy field,” Erdogan said.
Erdogan also expressed Turkey’s willingness to work jointly with Ukraine to achieve the goal of increasing bilateral trade volume to 20 billion U.S. dollars by 2015.
The sides also signed a number of cooperation agreements.
Erdogan arrived here late Wednesday for a thee-day official visit.
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