Ukrainian President's Visit to Japan: Outlines

KIEV, Ukraine, January 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The President of Ukraine completed his official visit to Japan. "Japan is an important foreign partner of Ukraine," said Viktor Yanukovych.

Upon the President's four-day visit to Japan the two countries signed the Joint statement on Ukraine-Japan global partnership. Also, Ukrainian President and the Prime Minister of Japan Naoto Kan approved signing of the Loan Agreement between the State Export-Import Bank of Ukraine (Ukreximbank) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. Under the provisions of the Agreement, the Japanese bank loans Ukreximbank 800 million hryvnias (8 billion Japanese yen) to promote export of goods and services from Japan and to support the economic development of Ukraine.

"Imagine one of the largest countries in Europe, which borders on Russia to the East, the European Union to the West, and has a wide access to the Black Sea in the South. Imagine a country that produces modern space crafts, aircrafts and other modern engineering products," said Ukrainian President at the first Ukrainian-Japanese forum Investment opportunities in Ukraine, held in Tokyo. Yanukovych has also urged the Japanese businessmen to invest in Ukraine mentioning that "Ukraine is three benefits in one: the right time, the right place and the right decision."

Hakuo Yanagisawa, Chairman of the Japanese-Ukrainian Economic Council, said: "Since the independence of your country, bilateral relations between Japan and Ukraine have been developing successfully in all fields." However, the Chairman pointed out that Ukraine does not use its potential to the fullest.

The Chairman drew particular attention to the agricultural potential of Ukraine, especially in the context of the global food crisis. He mentioned that Japan bears a great deal of interest in activating bilateral economic relations with Ukraine and assisting the country in taking its leading place among the developed states.

On top of that, Viktor Yanukovych reaffirmed the commitment of the Ukrainian government to ensure the proper and transparent utilization of financial resources according to the Green Investment Scheme (GIS). He also reiterated that Ukraine would soon identify specific GIS projects, implementation of which will require Japanese technology and experience.

The possibility of visa regime simplification for Ukrainians was in the spotlight as well. Ukraine has waived the visa requirement for Japanese citizens six years ago.