Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his Sri Lankan counterpart Mahinda Rajapaksa promised to enhance trade and economic cooperation between their countries during a meeting Wednesday.
Rajapaksa arrived in Kiev on Tuesday for a five-day official visit to Ukraine.
Yanukovych said he hoped Rajapaksa's visit could give the two countries "an opportunity to enter a new stage in relations," adding that "we are ready to offer various forms of cooperation, primarily in trade and economic sector."
Yanukovych noted the importance of holding a joint Ukraine-Sri Lanka business forum, attended by representatives of business and industry from the two countries. He said the forum was to create favorable conditions for cooperation.
Yanukovych also discussed mutually beneficial cooperation with Rajapaksa, adding that Ukraine has great interest in the market of Sri Lanka.
Rajapaksa said that he was confident of advancing relations and cooperation between the two states during his visit.
During the meeting, the two sides also reached agreement on Ukraine's participation in exploring and developing oil deposits in Sri Lanka.
"We have agreed that the Ukrainian side will support our proposals to explore oil in our land," Rajapaksa said.