KIEV Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko is expected to make a working visit to Iran on February 6-7, Russian Interfax reported Thursday.

During the visit, Yushchenko is to attend the test flight of the Iran-140 plane to be held on February 7 in Isfahan, it said.

In addition, both sides will discuss the strengthening of trade and economic cooperation and prospects for bilateral relations. The spokeswoman said that this visit is of civil nature and has been coordinated with the U.S. side.

Ukraine will fulfill its obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear technologies.

Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi kicked off a three-day official visit to Ukraine on Tuesday with a pledge to boost political and trade ties between the two countries.

Kharrazi held talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Anatoly Zlenko shortly after his arrival, and also met with President Leonid Kuchma and Prime Minister Viktor Yushchenko on Wednesday.

"This visit will provide new dynamism to bilateral relations in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres," the Ukrainian foreign minister was quoted by Interfax as saying before his meeting with Kharrazi.

Iran and Ukraine have collaborated in the building of the Iran-140 airplane, which has a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) and a 52-passenger capacity.

The aircraft is due to get its maiden flight on February 11, the 22nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Zlenko told a joint press conference that Kiev and Tehran are examining ways of transporting natural gas to Central and Western Europe through Ukraine.

Kharrazi said a joint working group would be set up to examine the technicalities.

Ukraine's gas pipeline network is well-developed, with a carrying capacity of 190 billion cubic meters of gas per year. However it is currently functioning at less than 70 percent of its capacity.

(IRNA)