KIEV, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- The first China International Import Expo (CIIE) is another step toward boosting trade between Ukraine and China, Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv said on Monday.

Kubiv, who heads the Ukrainian delegation to the expo, said that China and Ukraine have a potential to increase their annual trade turnover to 10 billion U.S. dollars within five years, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Economic Development and Trade Ministry.

Noting that China is a strategic partner for Ukraine, Kubiv said bilateral trade has been steadily increasing this year.

Last year, China was Ukraine's top trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region and the second-largest trading partner in the world, with bilateral trade turnover amounting to 7.7 billion dollars.

At the CIIE, which is held in Shanghai, east China, from Nov. 5 to 10, the Ukrainian government displays a national exhibition booth featuring food, machines and high-tech products, among other things.

Besides, 19 Ukrainian companies will present their products and services at the expo.