Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Dmytro Kuleba has been appointed to lead the Ukrainian-Chinese and Ukrainian-Indian intergovernment commissions.
“I head the intergovernment commissions with China and India,” Kuleba said in an exclusive interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
“The trade partner of Ukraine number one as a union of the countries is the European Union, and the trade partner of Ukraine number one as a separate state is China. We have a free trade zone with the European Union, there is no free trade zone with China, but despite this, China has come out on top. That is, it is extremely important for us to see the general picture, as well as the tools and opportunities that arise for Ukraine in relations with two trading giants. That is why I am dealing with this commission,” he said.
According to deputy PM, if to look at this issue in isolation, exclusively as Ukrainian-Chinese relations, this means underutilizing the potential or substituting for risks.
“Because a person who does not understand what is happening on the western vector can make a mistake in making decisions on the eastern vector, and vice versa. To balance these two giants, to make economic cooperation with them as profitable as possible for Ukraine is my task,” he stated.
Commenting on the immediate successes he wants to achieve with China, Kuleba noted that Ukraine needs to build good relations with this state and recalled that trust was undermined in investment projects.
In addition, in his opinion, Ukraine needs access to large-scale global investment projects, primarily in the field of infrastructure, energy, agriculture, where Chinese funds can be attracted.
As for India, Kuleba believes that this is the country of the most unrealized potential for trade with Ukraine. “We have huge opportunities under our feet that we don’t take advantage of. You can’t underestimate India anymore – this is my key signal,” the deputy PM said.
“I want to have trade diversification with India, because now we mainly export sunflower oil there. I want to maintain the surplus in trade with India that we have now, but to expand the range of goods that we trade, and I want to see more Indian investment in Ukraine,” said Kuleba.
