KIEV, Aug. 8 - Ukraine wants to develop trade and economic relations with Belarus, First Deputy Prime Minister Serhiy Arbuzov said.

"Belarus is an important trade and economic partner for us. Last year, trade between the two countries reached a record $7.5 billion We want to increase it and use it as fully as possible," the government's press service quoted him as saying during his working visit to Belarus.

Arbuzov said that the fulfillment of tasks set by Ukrainian and Belarusian Presidents Viktor Yanukovych and Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting in Kiev on July 18 was a priority.