KIEV, Sept. 20 – Ukraine intends in mid October to sign an agreement with the Export-Import Bank of China that will give Kiev $3 billion in credit lines in exchange for supplies of maize, the Financial Times reported, quoting Ukraine's Agricultural Policy and Food Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk.

"China is asking for about 3 m tonnes of corn each year... to be supplied at market prices that are set at the time of export," Prysiazhniuk told the Financial Times.

The Ukrainian minister said that the Chinese market was very important and attractive for Ukraine, since the country hasn't yet exported maize there.

Prysiazhniuk said the Chinese loans would be used to finance the purchase of Chinese agriculture technologies, herbicides and pesticides.