China is among Ukraine's ten largest trading partners / Photo from UNIAN
Ukraine's Minister for Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv had a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Du Wei.
Trade between Ukraine and China in January-November 2018 grew by US$1.1 billion compared to the 12 months of 2017, to US$8.82 billion.
"China is a strategic partner of Ukraine, and mutual trade is constantly growing. Over the 11 months of 2018, Ukraine's trade with China amounted to $8.82 billion, which is more than US$1.1 billion up on the entire 2017," the press service of Ukraine's Economic Development and Trade Ministry quoted Minister Stepan Kubiv as saying at a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Du Wei.
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"Not long ago, Ukraine and China agreed at a high level that trade will reach US$10 billion a year. It is pleasant to note that our work in this direction demonstrates obvious progress," he said.
The minister also added that the two countries had effective tools for boosting cooperation in key promising sectors.
"First of all, this is the Ukrainian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission, as well as the joint participation of representatives of Ukraine and China in important events, such as the One Belt One Road Forum, which is an effective platform for interstate dialogue between our countries," Kubiv said.
As was reported, trade between Ukraine and China in 2017 amounted to US$7.69 billion.
China is among Ukraine's ten largest trading partners. The largest article of Ukrainian exports to China is food. At the beginning of December 2017, Ukraine and China signed a roadmap for the implementation of the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and "Maritime Silk Road" initiatives, designed to strengthen economic cooperation between Europe and Asia.
China's One Belt One Road Initiative involves the development of trade relations between China and Europe. Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Du Wei noted that the project is impossible without Ukraine. In future, projects within the Silk Road initiatives will give Ukraine an opportunity to bypass Russia's restrictions on transit shipments to Central Asia.