Ukraine Japan Relations: Ukrainian President to Visit Japan and Meet the Emperor

KIEV, Ukraine, January 18, 2011 - The President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych will pay an
official visit to Japan on January 18-20, 2011. The visit of the Ukrainian
leader is aimed at further strengthening friendly relations between the two
nations.

The Ukrainian President plans to have an audience with His
Imperial Majesty the Emperor Akihito while in Tokyo. Victor Yanukovych is
also scheduled to meet Naoto Kan, the Prime Minister of Japan; Takahiro
Yokomichi, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan and Takeo
Nishioka, the President of the House of Councilors of Japan. It is also
planned that Viktor Yanukovych will take the floor during the business forum
at the headquarters of the Japan Business Federation "Keidanren". On January
19-21 the President will visit Kyoto and Osaka, meeting the leaders of both
cities to discuss regional cooperation. Viktor Yanukovych will also give a
speech at the Kyoto University on the current situation in Ukraine.

The objective of this visit is to intensify the bilateral
political dialogue at the highest level. It is intended to expand the
scientific and technological, cultural, trade and economic cooperation,
particularly through the involvement of financial, technological and
investment potential of Japan within the Ukrainian economy and development of
its infrastructure, according to the head of the Ukrainian presidential
administration Serhiy Liovochkin.

Liovochkin has also highlighted that the visit of the
Ukrainian President to Japan is expected to initiate a number of bilateral
agreements. It is planned to make a joint statement on Ukraine-Japan's global
partnership and Loan Agreement between the State Export-Import Bank of
Ukraine (Ukreximbank) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation
regarding opening the second line of credit. The leaders of both countries
will also discuss the possibility of other major projects within the
framework of Ukraine's preparation to host the EURO-2012 finals.

According to the data of the State Statistics Committee of
Ukraine, the total volume of bilateral trade grew 42.2% during the first ten
months of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009. Export of Ukrainian goods
to Japan surged by 19.1%. The amount of Japan's direct investments into
Ukraine has increased by 12.6%, as of 1 October 2010.

For more information, please contact Maryna Khorunzha
+380509151565 news at wnu-ukraine.com, Project Manager at Worldwide News Ukraine