Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) - A videoconference was held at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade with Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asian Affairs Christopher Wilson, during which issues of bilateral cooperation as part of the Republic of Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization were discussed (WTO).

On the Uzbek side, the heads of the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, as well as representatives of several ministries and departments of the Republic that are part of the Interdepartmental Commission for Working with the WTO, participated in the video conference.

During the event, the American side was provided with information on the current state of the process of accession of the republic to the WTO and the status of preparation of necessary documents.

Mr. Wilson, positively assessing the measures taken by the Government of Uzbekistan within the framework of accession to the WTO, confirmed the readiness of the American side to provide comprehensive support to Uzbekistan in this process. A common understanding was reached on the need to accelerate the advancement of ongoing initiatives in spite of the current epidemiological situation.

According to the American side, the period of the coronavirus pandemic and the related cancellation of events at the WTO headquarters in Geneva until the end of April this year can be used by the Uzbek side as an opportunity for more thorough and high-quality preparation for the 4th meeting of the Working Group on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO and upcoming negotiations with its member countries.

The parties also agreed to continue a direct dialogue with the regular holding of similar videoconferences in order to effectively organize all the activities in the process of the republic’s accession to the WTO, which will allow to work out the agenda more intensively and efficiently.