China warmly welcomes the delegation of Ukraine and Deputy Minister Taras KACHKA to this TPR meeting. We appreciate the government of Ukraine and the Secretariat for preparing the comprehensive TPR reports, and extend our gratitude to discussant Ambassador Mr. Ronald SABORÍO SOTO for his insightful remarks.

China noted that despite facing difficulties, Ukraine has shown resilience in the review period through strategic modernisation efforts and policy-driven initiatives aimed at promoting exports and fostering entrepreneurship. Moreover, the reforms in the banking and financial sectors, along with endeavours for intellectual property innovation and land market liberalisation, have played a crucial role in unlocking Ukraine’s economic development potential.

In the TPR reports, one notable keyword is “digitisation”. With a high level of digital adoption, Ukraine has prioritised

 e-governance, public service platforms, and digital policies to enhance transparency, efficiency, and integrity in public administration. These digital advancements serve as a key driver for trade facilitation and offer solutions to weak business efficiency through relevant policy reforms. It is noteworthy that these efforts have especially benefited SMEs and women entrepreneurs in Ukraine.

On the multilateral side, China commends Ukraine’s active integration into the multilateral trading system. Ukraine has modernised its customs infrastructure by aligning its national trade and customs procedures with the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, fulfilling its TFA commitments by February 2022.

We applaud Ukraine’s active engagement in the work of the WTO. We appreciate its active participation in Joint Statement Initiatives, such as e-commerce and services domestic regulation.  We share the same stands as Ukraine in prioritising the effective operation of the Dispute Settlement Body and supporting the Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arrangement (MPIA). We commend Ukraine for its acceptance of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement as well as the fulfilment

 of its notification obligation, though improvements are needed in the area of domestic support.

In the TPR reports, we also recognise Ukraine's ongoing efforts to streamline its foreign investment procedures, improve transparency and strengthen its investment promotion institutions. Given these advancements, we encourage Ukraine to consider participating in the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) as a strategic move towards enhancing its investment climate.

Regarding bilateral relations, Ukraine has been a major trade partner of China. China has consistently been one of the top destinations for Ukrainian exports. During the review period, despite fluctuations, China’s share in Ukraine's goods exports experienced a slight overall increase. Notably, in 2024, the total trade volume between the two countries grew by 17% compared to the previous year, further strengthening the foundation for future growth.

Ukraine has a crucial role in the global food supply chain. It is an important source of agricultural imports for China, accounting for more than half of Ukraine’s exports to China. The two sides are working together to further expand Ukraine’s exports to China.

We encourage Ukraine to further enhance its investment environment. China is willing to continue strengthening investment cooperation with Ukraine.