APEC Ministers' Support Is Crucial For Russia Aspiring To WTO

The ministers taking part in the APEC (Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum support Russia's future joining the WTO and participation in a new stage of multilateral trade negotiations. According to Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, this support worded in the APEC ministers' statement has great importance for Russia. He said this at the Thursday press-conference summing up the work of the 13th meeting of APEC ministers of foreign affairs and trade held in Shanghai. Ivanov said that on the whole the meeting had lived up to Russian expectations. According to him, the main achievement is that "representatives of APEC member-states having various level of socio-economic development and providing altogether for about 60% of the world GDP have agreed on key issues of trade, investment, economic, and technological cooperation". The forum has confirmed that it is an efficient mechanism of dialogue and practical interaction in the Asian-Pacific region. Ivanov also noted that the current meeting had again demonstrated the dramatic role Russia played in the forum's work. The long-term objective of the APEC is creating an area of stable and dynamic economic growth in the Asian-Pacific region. According to the minister, this is consistent with Russian interests and promotes the development of Russian eastern regions.