Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday in his annual address to parliament stressed that the authorities will focus more on bolstering country's economic growth, according Xinhua.

"This year we need to accelerate structural reforms in the national economy to overcome the new challenges generated by the global economic crisis," Yanukovych said in a message published on the presidential website.

To achieve sustainable development in near future, Ukraine will intensify efforts to support small businesses, implement innovation, and develop its huge investment potential, Yanukovych said.

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Stabilization of public finances, formation of a stable financial system, infrastructure upgrade, energy security improvement and development of the internal market are the priority tasks to be done, Yanukovych said.

The president also stressed the need to upgrade and further develop the country's military-industrial complex, in particular space rocket, aircraft, shipbuilding and electronic industries.

Improvement of the legal and regulatory framework to support export of military goods, protection of Ukrainian producers' interests in the global market and attraction of investments are the key task to fulfill the potential of Ukraine's military-industrial complex, Yanukovych said.

Speaking of the prospects of the country's foreign policy, he said Kiev is interested in expanding economic cooperation with both Western and Eastern partners.

Yanukovych expressed the hope that Ukraine will sign an association agreement during the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius this November.

At the same time, the president said that cooperation with China, the United States and the Commonwealth of Independent States remains the priority in Ukraine's foreign policy.