January 20, 2011
While on their visit to Japan, H.E. Mr. Viktor Yanukovych, President of Ukraine, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and others, totaling six, visited Kyoto University, and met with President Hiroshi Matsumoto, Executive Vice-President Akihiko Akamatsu, Executive Vice-President Kiyoshi Yoshikawa, Director-General Junichi Mori of the Organization for the Promotion of International Relations, and Director Shinya Yamanaka of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application.
First, the group was greeted by President Matsumoto and Director Yamanaka at the entrance of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, the venue of the meeting, and then the meeting was held in the seminar room. Then, for President Yanukovych, who has a keen interest in iPS cell research, Director Yamanaka gave a slide presentation introducing iPS cells and the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application. Since iPS cell research has not yet begun in the Ukraine, President Yanukovych spoke of his wish to deepen exchanges with Kyoto University and promote such research.
Changing venue to the auditorium, President Yanukovych gave a speech to students and faculty members of the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application. In his speech, President Yanukovych introduced the status of economic progress of the Ukraine, a country blessed with abundant natural resources, and gave his thoughts on the research environment of Kyoto University as well as the promising field of iPS cell research. He closed the speech by expressing his heartfelt wish that someday, the two trees of sakura, a symbol of Japan, and cherry, a symbol of the Ukraine, will bloom in the same garden. After the speech, President Yanukovych exited amidst a large applause, while shaking hands with each participant that were standing in the aisle listening to his speech.
 President Matsumoto and Director Yamanaka greeting and shaking hands with President Yanukovych |  Meeting |
 President Yanukovych listening to the President Matsumoto |  iPS cell research introduction by Director Yamanaka |
 President Yanukovych giving a speech |  Venue, also attended by many reporters |
 President Yanukovych and President Matsumoto applauding each other after the speech |  President Yanukovych exiting while shaking hands with participants |