Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 19 / Trend, E. Kosolapova/
It is very important and beneficial for Kazakhstan to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), after Russia, RIA Novosti quotes Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev as saying.
"All our transport corridors to Europe pass through Russia. Thus, Russia's WTO membership is very important for Kazakhstan", Nazarbayev said.
Russia signed the long-awaited agreement with Georgia that eliminates the final barrier on Moscow's membership to the WTO on Nov. 9. It took Russia 18 years to join the WTO.
Russia will have six months to ratify the document, and 30 days after the ratification the country will officially join the organization.
Nazarbayev said Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus discussed WTO membership even at the beginning of the Customs Union's establishment.
"We have also practically completed negotiations with all the countries, and in late 2012 Kazakhstan will also be ready to join the WTO," Nazarbayev added.
Russia will support Kazakhstan and Belarus in their efforts to join the WTO after Moscow joins the trade bloc, Russia's top WTO negotiator Maxim Medvedkov said earlier.
"It will be easier for our partners in the Customs Union (to join the WTO) because Russia has spent two years in WTO negotiations on complicated problems regarding the Customs Union," Medvedkov said at the press conference.