KIEV, Ukraine / BEIJING - President Hu Jintao arrived in the Ukrainian capital on Sunday on the third and final leg of his three-nation tour.

"China is ready to work with Ukraine to promote bilateral cooperation and exchanges in a comprehensive and extensive way," Hu said in a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yanukovich on Saturday evening in Yalta, the first stop of his three-day Ukraine tour.

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Hu's visit is the first by a Chinese head of state to Ukraine in the past decade.

He said the two countries should work hard to carry on the friendship between the two peoples from generation to generation.

Ukraine has made relations with China the priority of its foreign policy since Yanukovich took office last February.

Yanukovich said Hu's visit was of great significance to the government and people of Ukraine, and said it would add fresh impetus to the development of bilateral relations and lift them to a new height.

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cheng Guoping said earlier that the two countries planned to sign a range of documents, including intergovernmental and interdepartmental agreements and commercial contracts.

Speaking to the media prior to Hu's visit, Zhang Xiyun, Chinese ambassador to Ukraine, said that the country is geographically important as it borders both the European Union and Russia.

Also, it has solid foundations in agricultural and industrial development, and has advantages in technology, including military technology and aviation technology; while China has a vast market and capital, and also expertise in the field of reform and opening up, said Zhang.

Ukrainian Ambassador to China Yurii Kostenko said earlier that the two countries would sign a joint declaration on elevating their bilateral ties, as well as cooperation agreements on infrastructure, energy and trade.

In meetings scheduled for Monday, the two countries' leaders will summarize achievements and experiences in the development of bilateral relations, and make plans for the future, said Feng Yujun, head of the Russian Studies Division at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Hu is expected to be welcome at a lavish ceremony on Monday in Kiev, and preside over the signing of bilateral intergovernmental documents.

Ukraine is the last stop of his nine-day tour which also took him to Kazakhstan and Russia.