New Delhi: India and Ukraine will sign an extradition treaty and another treaty on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters during the four-day state visit of Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma beginning on October 2.

The two sides will also sign an agreement on merchant shipping during his stay in New Delhi, an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson told reporters.

President Kuchma, who is arriving in New Delhi at the invitation of President A P J Abdul Kalam, will have discussions with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on October 3 on a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual concern. Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani will call on him on October 4.

He will also have meetings with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi before leaving for Bangalore on October 4 where he will visit ISRO, HAL as also the three software technology parks.

Relations between India and Ukraine have been traditionally close and friendly. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Bilateral trade last year was pegged at $ 225 million. Almost 40 per cent of Indian exports constitute pharmaceuticals, while imports includes chemicals and fertilisers.

The Ukrainian President will also have interaction with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) to explore prospects of enhancing business ties.

PTI