Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his
Ukrainian counterpart Borys Tarasyuk pledged Wednesday to improve
relations between their countries.
"We expect these relations to develop on the basis of
good-neighborliness, equality, mutual respect and benefit," Lavrov
said after the meeting with Tarasyuk.
Russia was satisfied with the agreements reached with Ukraine in
such fields as trade and energy, said the Russian minister.
The two sides also reached consensus on deepening cooperation in
such areas as transportation, industry, agriculture and aviation,
he added.
Tarasyuk said Ukraine and Russia, as strategic partners, would
push forward bilateral relations on the basis of practicability and
goodwill.
The two sides have signed an agreement on border-crossing for
residents living in border areas, while negotiations on signing an
agreement on immigration has also been completed, said
Tarasyuk.
Lavrov, who arrived in Kiev on Tuesday for a two-day visit to
Ukraine, also met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovitch.
Yanukovitch praised the improvement of ties between Ukraine and
Russia under his government, saying Kiev would keep improving them
in the interests of his country.
He also hoped that both countries would squarely face their
problems in the course of cooperation and solve them actively.
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2006)
