Ukrainian new President Viktor Yushchenko arrived here late Monday for a three-day official visit to Turkey.

It is Yushchenko's first trip abroad since coming to power after last year's popular revolt dubbed the "Orange Revolution."

Yushchenko will meet with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Parliamentary Speaker Bulent Arinc and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit on June 6-8 to deepen bilateral ties, according to the arrangements.

The Ukrainian head of state is also scheduled to hold talks with representatives of the Foreign Economic Relations Board and Turkish businessmen in Istanbul.

A number of agreements are to be inked during the visit to lay down the legal framework of further cooperation between Turkey and Ukraine in the nuclear field, energy, fighting crime, railway transportation and science and technology.

Turkish officials have said the relations between the two countries have grown to a level of strategic partnership, adding Ukraine was seeking Ankara's help in establishing alternative routes for transportation of oil and natural gas.

Ties between the two countries have been on a steady path of improvement since Ukraine won independence from the now-defunct Soviet Union in the early 1990s.

The two countries signed a joint action plan in 2004 to develop cooperation in all fields.

Following Yuschenko attained to the presidency in the aftermath of the Orange Revolution in late 2004, Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul became the first foreign leader to pay an official visit to Ukraine.

Turkey is the fifth biggest trade partner of Ukraine and the third biggest market for its exports. But despite the high level of economic cooperation, the two countries have been unable to resolve disagreements in the field of fisheries.

Two years of negotiations have failed to settle the dispute. The issue is expected to be taken up in Yuschenko's visit and Turkish officials have voiced optimism that the new administration in Ukraine would provide momentum to resolve the issue.

Source: CRI/Xinhua