President of China enlists Ukraine's support during visit to Kyiv (07/29/01)

President of China enlists Ukraine's support during visit to Kyiv

by Maryna Makhnonos
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

KYIV - President Jiang Zemin of China enlisted Ukraine's support for his country's opposition to U.S. missile defense plans and preservation of the ABM treaty, signing a joint Chinese-Ukrainian declaration of friendship and comprehensive cooperation on July 21.

"This treaty is the foundation of the structure of international agreements on limiting and reducing strategic offensive weapons," the declaration said.

"Ukraine and China believe that global strategic stability and international safety depend upon the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty," it said.

Mr. Jiang arrived in Kyiv on July 20 after visiting Russia, Belarus and Moldova. He succeeded in winning the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressed in a joint statement signed on July 16 which said the 1972 ABM treaty is a "cornerstone of strategic stability" that must be preserved.

China and Russia oppose U.S. plans to develop a missile shield and scrap the ABM treaty, arguing that such moves could prompt a new arms race. However, just days after signing a friendship treaty with his Chinese counterpart, Mr. Putin said that Moscow would not coordinate its response with China.

Ukraine proclaimed itself a neutral state in 1991 and surrendered its nuclear arsenal, the world's third largest at the time.

Some local reports said it was no accident that President Jiang made a tour of four former Soviet republics while there was a tense dialogue between European countries and the United States over Washington's defense plans.

The visit also showed China's intention to seek closer ties with Moscow's neighbors and allies, including Ukraine, which is maneuvering between Russia and the West.

At his meetings with Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Anatolii Kinakh, President Jiang discussed economic, political and humanitarian issues, trade development and the Chinese experience with free trade zones, as well as cooperation in high-tech and space industries, and educational, cultural and information spheres.

"China is a great country and there are many things for us to learn, to trade and to discuss," President Kuchma said, according to the Den daily.

Ukrainian and Chinese officials signed several documents, including an accord on extradition of criminals and an agreement on cooperation in tourism. China also signed a $1.2 million humanitarian aid grant to Ukraine for joint projects.

Trade turnover between China and Ukraine has steadily decreased in recent years, falling from $1.3 billion in 1997 to $840 million in 1999 and about $760 million in 2000, the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine reported.

However, bilateral trade began to grow this year, increasing by 30 percent in the first six months of 2001 compared to the same period last year and reaching $590 million, Den reported.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anatolii Zlenko said on July 24 that the Chinese president's visit helped achieve high-level agreements to boost business cooperation.

"We determined clear priorities of cooperation in the realization of large-scale projects," Mr. Zlenko said, according to the Interfax news agency. "First of all, we are speaking about Ukraine's participation in developing China's western regions, construction of energy units and transport corridors, as well as aerospace projects."

Relations between the two states soured in 1997, after the premier of Taiwan made an unofficial visit to Kyiv, but have markedly improved since then. China views the island of Taiwan, governed by Chinese who fled the Communist takeover of the mainland in 1949, as a renegade province.

In the joint declaration signed with China, Ukraine said it considers Taiwan an inalienable part of China and pledged to have no official relations with it.

After completing his agenda in Kyiv, President Jiang left Kyiv on July 21 for Symferopol, the capital of the Crimean peninsula, a top Soviet-era resort area that today is plagued by economic hardship.

Before leaving Ukraine early on July 23 for Malta, Mr. Jiang visited former palaces of Russian tsars and the home of writer Anton Chekhov located near the Crimean city of Yalta. He also took part in a dinner hosted by Ukraine's president.

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