Dmytro Kamkov, Acting Consul General of Ukraine in Guangzhou, said Guangdong plays a significant role in Ukraine and China cooperation, especially in such fields as trade, technological innovation and education during an interview recently to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership between China and Ukraine and the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian independence.

During Dmytro Kamkov’s stay in Guangzhou, he witnessed profound achievements in Guangdong-Ukraine ties including the launch of the Odesa-Guangzhou freight express as well as the form of friendly relationship between Guangzhou and Ukrainian cities, Kyiv and Kherson. He believes Ukraine and Guangdong face numerous opportunities as China has been furthering the Belt and Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Dmytro Kamkov at interview.(Photo provided to Newsgd.com)

Q: Mr. Kamkov, could you please introduce Ukraine to us? What meaning does year 2021 have to Ukraine?

Yes, 2021 is a really important year-for Ukraine, for China and the two States together. Taking the opportunity, I want to congratulate all citizens of the People's Republic of China with a century anniversary of the party founding. We wish a friendly Chinese people to reach larger and larger peaks!

Ukraine this year also celebrated an anniversary-30 years of independence. 30 years ago, there was signed an agreement, which consolidated the status of Ukraine as an independent state, an actor in its own right on the international stage. Much had been done in these thirty years, and despite obstacles that arise in the international political arena, Ukraine can be proud of the achievements for the last 3 decades. First, this is the adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine in 1996, a document that provides its citizens with rights and freedoms, based on democratic values. Secondly we have created our own financial and banking system, due to the launching of hryvnia, as a national currency. Another important milestone is decentralization of power in Ukraine, which is determined to transfer authority from a central government to sub-national entities, territorial communities. In terms of technical achievements, I`d like to mention that in 2015, Antonov State Enterprise introduced an AN-178 aircraft, a unique feature of which is possibility to carry a wide range of packaged cargoes (15-18 tons). It`s also my pleasure to introduce a new healthcare reform, which provides with a high-quality medical services. Among the educational achievements-the launching of External Independent evaluation, the system of evaluation of graduates, which specifies high educational standards, at the level of Chinese Gaokao. But the main achievement, we still consider Ukraine's consolidated ability to be a sovereign member of international law, which gives us the right to independently establish friendly relations with other states. Honestly, we highly appreciate that in December 1991 China was one of the first countries that recognized Ukraine's independence and one of the first opened its diplomatic mission in Ukraine. This laid a very good basis for the relations developing between our countries.

Q: Could you please also tell some facts about Ukrainian-Chinese relations: in the past and now？

After the proclamation of the PRC in 1949, Ukraine played a significant role in the emergence of Chinese metallurgy, mechanical engineering, agriculture, by sending our scientists, engineers to assist in creating relevant industries. Such cooperation and mutual assistance established friendly relations between the generations of the Chinese and Ukrainians, gave rise to the atmosphere of mutual respect between the two peoples.

It’s worth to say, that even now relationship between two countries is built on the basis of respect for the sovereignty of each other, which is the necessary key to strong economic ties between the states.

Now contacts between the two countries in the political sphere are becoming increasingly close, and the political mutual trust is constantly growing. The governments of the two countries express the desire to actively develop the friendly relationship and bilateral cooperation.

For example, last year, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky provided citizens of the PRC the right to temporarily entry Ukraine under visa-free conditions. And recently, the Chinese Ambassador in Ukraine Fan Xianrong announced a possible visa-free regime with Ukraine.

Q: 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of Ukraine-China strategic partnership. Which sectors saw increased communication and cooperation between the two countries? Are there any major achievements over the past 10 years?

Yes, this year Ukraine and the PRC celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership. The program of Strategic Partnership was founded during the State Visit of the PRC Chairman Hu Jintao to Ukraine in 2011. This event has marked an opening of a new page in the history of Ukrainian-Chinese relations. From thereon, the parties are constantly working on the deepening of political dialogue and interaction, the expansion of cooperation in the trade and economic, scientific and technical, agricultural, energy, infrastructure, educational and cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Today China is Ukraine’s main trading partner in both import and export. A major part of export sent from Ukraine to China is agricultural raw materials, fossils, animal products. Ukrainian eco-friendly food products are especially popular on the Chinese market. From China to Ukraine electronic devices, furniture are usually exported. As the trade sector is one of the most vividly developed one, we definitely can see a progress. Thus if in the period of establishing diplomatic relations in 1992, the volume of trade was only about 300 million dollars, then in 2020 trade between countries estimated to reach 15.4 billion dollars.

In addition to trade relations, the field of infrastructure is promising too. Considering Ukraine’s potential in the Belt and Road Initiative, China seems to be interested in contributing to the Ukraine’s modern infrastructure development. At the moment two states are in the middle of agreeing as for signing the memorandum in the relevant field.

Q: How does Ukraine define Guangdong’s role in the strategic partnership between Ukraine and China? It is important in this tie and why?

Being the most economically developed Chinese province, Guangdong undoubtedly plays a significant role in Ukraine and China co-operating. Firstly, due to serving as an outstanding Chinese trade zone and a production giant, Guangdong supplies a variety of goods all over the world. Ukraine, for its part, can be called the agrarian giant of Europe, millions of tons of raw materials exported to China every year speak for themselves. Smooth and comport connection between cities of two countries is the goal that both sides want to achieve. The current vision in relation to investment activity is directed to the renewal of production on the territory of Ukraine and the development of its infrastructure. Cultural and educational communication between citizens is still considered to be a stable direction of cooperation.

After all, it is not a secret that Guangdong has a very good geographical position, historically it is considered to be Marine gates of China, a genuine center for interdependent traders. Idea of sensible geoposition usage is also close to Ukraine, and we believe this feature will definitely help both sides to develop a program of strategic partnership deeper.

Q: Do you still remember the feeling when you first arrived in Guangdong? What impressed you most at that time? Have you got any new observations or developed any new understandings of Guangdong during your stay here? Could you give some examples?

It was spring 2019 when I first came to Guangzhou. A very fast pace of living immediately struck my eye as I went out of the airport: people, vehicles, atmosphere, like everything was saying to me “This city doesn’t sleep, it works, it develops”. At the same time, I always knew Guangzhou as an ancient city, it has lived through several dynasties and has a rich and long history. I admire Guangzhou ability of combining historical features and modern achievements. The idea of balancing between respect to history and implementing of civilizational achievements is spiritually close to me.

Q: Could you introduce some major cooperative projects between Ukraine and Guangdong? In which sectors did you see closer ties during your stay in Guangzhou? What efforts have been made by the Consulate General and the Guangdong government? Could you give some examples?

Honestly, in terms of globalization, where each country becomes a multifunctional subject of international dialogue, it has a set of strong features, that’s why it’s not that easy to define only one outstanding sphere of Ukrainian-Guangdong cooperation.

As it was already mentioned, currently an interaction inside a trade sphere is the most active. Today, through both sides support, this sphere develops extremely fast.

In this context, I can not help but mention education and science. Deriving from Soviet times good tradition of students exchange, both countries keep sending their youth to obtain education, share culture, strengthen friendly relations even during the pandemic. Generally, there were created many various organizations of sinologists in Ukraine, institutions of Chinese language learning, associations of cultural interaction and so on.

From the side of diplomatic and consulate institutions we are doing our best to create possibilities for two sides to develop relations, for both states and their citizens. With the assistance of General Consulate in Guangzhou there were signed more than 30 different agreements in variety spheres, in 2019 presidential elections were held, everyday there is an ongoing work on setting relations, acting as a bridge for both sides. For example, at the moment we’re engaged in signing Memorandum of Understanding between Exporter and Investors Council under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and Chinese Council for the Promotion of International Trade in Guangdong province. We have also put on track a sister-city status issue, Guangdong cities and Ukrainian cities have a lot of similarities. For example, the friendly-city status has already been agreed between Kyiv and Guangzhou (2020), Sumy and Guiyang (Guizhou Province), Kherson and Guangzhou and it’s going to be agreed with Kryvyi Rih (President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown) and Dongguan, Odesa and Guangzhou, Hostomel and Foshan, Odesa Region and Hainan Province, Poltava and Changsha and some more soon. Such practice promotes cultural exchange, setting special trade relations, educational projects, which in turn effects whole Ukrainian Chinese relations.

Q: Guangdong has been devoted to the development of Guangdong-Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. Did Ukraine make any plans to capitalize opportunities in the Greater Bay Area? Based on your observation, what are the most attractive characteristics and the industries with the most potential in the Greater Bay area?

We consider the Greater Bay Area to be a very interesting and promising project. As a party to the Strategic Partnership Agreement, Ukraine believes that such mechanism should contribute not only to the development of China's production and trade power, but also the following transformation of Guangdong province into a logistics hub, which in turn provides more opportunities for interaction between our countries. And although 2021 is not over yet, it can be seen that the current trade turnover between China and Ukraine has already exceeded last year's indications. As a result, there is a need for an improved mechanism for processing requests in the import-export sphere, and therefore the Greater Bay Area initiatives are in the interests of Ukraine.

Q: China recently highlighted the development of Hengqin in Zhuhai and Qianhai in Shenzhen. The two regions will see close cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao. Could you share some insights into the two regions? What opportunities will they pose to foreign companies? Will Ukraine have any plans to tighten partnership through these two regions?

In fact, currently Shenzhen is a very attractive region for Ukraine. The scientific and technical component of the city makes it the number one sector in the development of innovative technologies.

With the successful implementation of the Greater Bay Area project, we can expect an increasing in production scale, and hence a rapid increase in investment needs in the region.

Now diplomatic institutions, in particular the Consulate General of Ukraine in Guangzhou, are working on concluding agreements on creating a favorable investment climate for investors and entrepreneurs of both countries.

The opening ceremony of China Railway Express from Guangzhou to Odesa. (Source: 白云发布)

Q: You paid close attention and made strong efforts to open the China-Europe freighttrain between Odesa and Guangzhou. Could you share the reasons and how did they come true? How do you think the express benefits the foreign trade during the pandemic? How`s the feedback toward the Odesa-Guangzhou express? How do you think Ukraine and the Greater Bay Area could further contribute to the Belt and Road development in the future?

Yes, it is true, the container train from Guangzhou arrived at the Chernomorskaya station in the Odessa region on June 19. As noted, despite the impact of COVID-19, in 2020 the volume of trade between China and Ukraine increased by 20.8% over the previous year and continues to grow. By introducing this train, we plan to save almost half of the time compared to traditional sea transportation and significantly reduce logistics costs for enterprises of both countries, which in turn will further strengthen import-export relations between Ukraine and China.

Undoubtedly, transport communication between the East and the West has always been and is an important system of activities of the economies of all countries, and today such a combination can become an effective link in the development of the "Belt and Road" system. It is now assumed that such trains will run monthly. In other words, we can consider that the first step, the milestone in establishing a high-quality regular railway connection between Ukraine and China has been done.

Q: Based on your working experience and your daily life in Guangdong how might you promote the province and especially the Greater Bay Area to Ukraine? And how do you promote Ukraine to Guangdong?

Undoubtedly, I never lose the opportunity to introduce Ukraine abroad, tell people about our culture, current situation etc. But recently, I have been also spectated with delight the rapid development of Guangdong Province and the growth of the Greater Bay Area, I willingly advertise the province, its achievements, investment potential. I believe that with reasonable, sophisticated cooperation, old friends Ukraine and the China can ensure mutually beneficial relations based on respect for each other. After all, Ukraine is a young state, with good and hospitable people, a country opened for international dialogue, which seeks ways to establish friendly relations between countries for mutual development and prosperity!

By the way, taking the opportunity I would like to introduce you a website made in Ukraine about Ukraine in Ukrainian and not only languages. www.ukraine.ua is a unique platform that will be interesting to both an investor, and a traveler. On the site you can learn more about Ukraine by articles or photographs. Now the site is presented in Chinese language as well.