EU leader supports Russia's WTO bid: Kremlin

English.news.cn   2011-08-06

MOSCOW, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev discussed his country's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) with President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy on Friday, according to the Kremlin press service.

The press service said Van Rompuy said in a phone conversation that he supported Moscow's joining of the WTO by the end of this year and called it "the top priority".

"He stressed his readiness to go toward with Russian side in order to settle the still unresolved issues," the Kremlin said.

Medvedev, in return, thanked the EU leader for constructive attitude and expressed his hope for faster completion of the accession negotiations.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barrozo also discussed Moscow's accession to the WTO during a phone call.

Russia, which has been seeking WTO membership for some 18 years, is the largest economy remaining outside the global trade organization.

Editor: Mu Xuequan

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