1. Recognition of Ukraine: 27 December 1991.
2. Establishment of diplomatic relations: 4 January 1992.
3. Political relations:
The bilateral relations between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China represent the strategic partnership, while reflecting longstanding traditions of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
China invariably supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine remains firmly committed to “one China” policy. Given ongoing transformation and reforms in Ukraine in recent years, the two sides are currently undertaking measures aimed at launching a new phase of development of bilateral relations with the view to bringing them up at a new level.
The latest exchange of state visits of Heads of State took place in 2011 and 2013. During these visits signed were the basic documents which set and legally fix at present the ideas of friendship between two countries, determine key principles, achievements and priority spheres for further mutually beneficial development of Ukraine – China relations.
In the course of the Chinese President’s visit to Ukraine in June 2011, the Joint Declaration on Establishment and Development of Strategic Partnership Relations between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China was signed. The State visit of President of Ukraine in December 2013 was marked with signing the Treaty on Friendship and Cooperation between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China, the Joint Declaration on Further Deepening of Strategic Partnership Relations between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China, and the Program of Development of Strategic Partnership Relations between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China for the years 2014-2018.
In January 2015, Mr. Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine, met with Mr. Li Keqiang, Chinese Premier, in the framework of Davos World Economic Forum. In October 2014, Mr. Pavlo Klimkin, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, held a meeting with Mr. Wang Yi, the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the margins of the Milan ASEM Summit.
There is an inter-parliamentary cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine and the National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. Ukraine – China inter-parliamentary contact group headed by a member of parliament, Mr. Andriy Pavelko, functions in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of current convocation. The group of friendship with Ukraine led by Ms. Fu Yin, the Head of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, does exist in the Chinese National People’s Congress.
In the framework of inter-parliamentary and inter-party contacts, the Ukrainian MPs and public figures delegations have visited China in 2015 - 2018. In December 2015, the delegation of the CPC Central Committee International Affairs Department paid a working visit to Ukraine.
On 1 April 2016, in the framework of the Washington Nuclear Security Summit, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko had a short meeting with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. The Heads of State discussed the intensification of Ukraine-China cooperation and holding the next meeting of the Ukraine-China Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation.
On 27-28 April 2016, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin paid a working visit to China, where he had negotiations with Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi, held meetings with Chinese high-level officials, as well as took part in the Fifth Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Member States and Observers of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia. The Parties discussed the whole range of issues concerning cooperation between Ukraine and China, as well as topical issues of international agenda.
On 17 January 2017, in the framework of Davos World Economic Forum, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping. At the meeting, the two Heads of State expressed their interest in intensifying the political dialogue at the highest level and deepening the economic cooperation between Ukraine and China. Besides, the agreements were reached on holding the next meeting of the Ukrainian-Chinese intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation in 2017 and the Ukrainian delegation’s participation in the “One Belt, One Road” international forum (held in Beijing in May 2017). Xi Jinping also reconfirmed China’s support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
On 18 September 2017, the meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin and China Wang Yi was held in New York, in the margins of the 72nd session of the UN General Assembly. The discussion was focused on the two country’s cooperation in international organizations.
On 5 December 2017, in the framework of Kyiv Third meeting of the Commission on Cooperation between the Governments of two countries, Petro Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, and Volodymyr Groysman, Prime Minister of Ukraine, held their talks with Ma Kai, Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Head of the Chinese delegation. The talks provided the Two Sides with a good opportunity to exchange their views on the most pressing issues of bilateral relations. The leaders acknowledged that the states achieved significant progress in their bilateral cooperation.
On 21-22 January 2019, Beijing hosted the Ukrainian-Chinese political consultations at the level of Deputy of the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the two countries concerning topical issues of bilateral relations and UN-related matters.
On January 24, 2019, on the sidelines of the world Economic Forum in Davos, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko met with Vice President of China Wang Qishan. The parties agreed to continue the development of bilateral trade,economic and investment cooperation, which should be facilitated by the regular meeting of the Ukrainian-Chinese Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation in 2019.
Wang Qishan also confirmed full support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
At the end of April 2019, First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine Stepan Kubiv paid a working visit to China to participate in the Second Forum of International Cooperation "One Belt, One Road".
In 2020-2021, Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and China held two telephone conversations, discussing a wide range of issues concerning cooperation between Ukraine and China, including fight against COVID-19, as well as topical issues of international agenda.
The Fourth Meeting of the Commission of Cooperation between the Governments of Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China was held online on 23 December 2020. Following the event, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Olha Stefanishyna and Vice Premier of the State Council of the PRC Liu He signed an Action Plan on Cooperation and Acceleration of Joint Intentions in Trade, Economic, Investment and Sectors infrastructure and energy, agricultural, industrial and humanitarian spheres.
On April 19, 2021, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba delivered an online speech at the panel discussion "Accelerating Trade Ties in the Context of Pandemic Isolation" of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2021 and called for joint development of trade in the triangle Western Europe-Ukraine-Asia.
On April 15, 2021, online political consultations were held at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers of the two countries on topical issues of bilateral relations and on UN issues. The Chinese side reaffirmed its full support for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
On July 13, 2021 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping. The leaders exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic partnership between Ukraine and China and reaffirmed their mutual commitment to its development and deepening.
Since the beginning of russia's open armed aggression against our country, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held telephone conversations in March and April 2022 during which they agreed that ending the war against Ukraine is in the interests of peace, food security and international trade.