Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - A videoconference was held with representatives of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to discuss issues related to the preparations for the 4th meeting of the Working Group on Uzbekistan’s accession to this international organization, Dunyo reports.

According to the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the UN Office and other international organizations in Geneva, the Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the head of the WTO accession negotiation group Badriddin Abidov, representatives of the diplomatic mission of our country in Geneva took part in the videoconference. The WTO was represented by the director of the entry department, Mike Oshikawa, the head of the Working Group on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Ji-a-pak.

During the videoconference, issues of cooperation with the WTO Secretariat were discussed in detail to prepare for the next meeting of the Working Group on Uzbekistan’s accession to this organization.

The participants of the event were informed about measures being taken in Uzbekistan to ensure macroeconomic stability, uninterrupted operation of industries and sectors of the economy, as well as ongoing work to prepare for the fourth meeting of the Working Group on the accession of the republic to the WTO.

In this context, it is emphasized that the Uzbek side submitted to the WTO Secretariat an updated Memorandum on the regime of foreign trade, 16 additional documents relating to various aspects of foreign economic activity that were distributed among the WTO member states.

In addition, Uzbekistan sent answers to more than 300 questions from WTO member countries and additional documents necessary for the event.

In this regard, it is emphasized that despite the coronavirus pandemic, the leadership of the state pays priority attention to intensifying the dialogue with the WTO and holding the next meeting of the Working Group in the very near future after the quarantine.

The director of the Introductory Division, Mike Oshikawa, said that this videoconference is the first event in the history of the WTO held in this format using information and communication technologies. It allowed us to consider a wide range of bilateral cooperation through the WTO, and served as a convenient platform for a constructive and useful exchange of views on the issues on the agenda of our cooperation.

The head of the Working Group on the accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Ji-a-pak, expressed her willingness to provide all possible assistance in working out with the WTO member countries the issue of holding the fourth meeting of the Working Group in the near future, taking into account the current situation related to the coronavirus pandemic. In this regard, the format and options for the upcoming event will be comprehensively examined.

In general, foreign partners expressed full support for the leadership of Uzbekistan in the process of the country’s accession to the WTO.