By Hao Zhou

Ukraine expects to further strengthen its military technology sharing with China, while aiming to double trade volume to $20 billion over the next three years, the Ukrainian ambassador to China told reporters in Beijing yesterday.

The total trade volume between the two countries reached $10.4 billion last year, jumping more than a third year on year, according to statistics from China's Customs.

"Although Ukraine's exports to China increased more than 50 percent to $3.2 billion, we are not satisfied with mainly exporting mining resources to China," said Ambassador Yurii Kostenko. "Leaders from both countries have set a trade target of $20 billion in 2015," Kostenko said.

"We hope to enhance military technology cooperation with Beijing," he said, adding that expanding trade in non-military areas is also of great interest.

China's first aircraft carrier was built upon the Ukrainian aircraft carrier Varyag. Ukraine is currently helping China build two Zubr Class air cushion landing ships in its Feodosia factory.

The military technology sharing between Ukraine and China is also under intense pressure from the EU, which imposes a strict arms embargo against Beijing, while Ukraine is seeking a membership in the EU. However, Kostenko said the EU has no reason to object to Ukraine's military cooperation with China.

"We are in negotiations with the EU to establish a free trade zone, and such negotiations are also underway with countries from the Commonwealth of Independent States. We will also explore the potential with China in the future," he said.

"I don't think Ukraine's closer military ties with China or India will affect Kiev's negotiations with the EU," he said.