RIGA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Talks on economic and security cooperation between visiting Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Latvian officials are to take place during Groysman's state visit here, a Latvian government spokes person informed.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinsikis, which followed their meeting in Riga, Groysman said there was still the potential for closer cooperation in trade and tourism in developing bilateral relationship.

The Ukrainian prime minister noted the need to promote investment that his country had been working hard to encourage in the face of ongoing corruption issues the country continues to combat. Progress in these efforts will be evident very soon, Groysman said.

Kucinskis said Latvia and Ukraine had a close and busy cooperation in many areas and reaffirmed Latvia's support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its reforms, and emphasized the importance of stability and security in Ukraine for Europe.

"I would like to praise Ukraine for the progress it has achieved so far in the reform process -- in bank management and the judiciary. Latvia is aware of the complexity of these reforms, but it is essential to carry on with these reforms," the Latvian prime minister said.

Ukraine is an important trade partner, Kucinskis said, and there is a broad range of areas in which Latvian and Ukrainian entrepreneurs can still develop closer business exchange.

Kucinskis noted that Latvia was a platform for organizing freight transportation and logistics operations in the region, as transport corridors cross Latvia's territory.