Uzbekistan has finalized bilateral talks with China on joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), marking significant progress in its accession process. This announcement was made on 29 November via LinkedIn by president’s special representative for WTO affairs Azizbek Urunov.
China is the 22nd country with which Uzbekistan concluded bilateral talks for WTO membership.
“Very short, but productive visit to Beijing! Yesterday we completed bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO with the People’s Republic of China,” Urunov stated.
He expressed gratitude to Chinese Ministry of Commerce, deputy minister Li Fei and others for their “constructive dialogue”.
“Very important year end to finish negotiations with two biggest global trade players — United States and China. 22 countries are there, a few left!” Urunov wrote.
Following his last visit to China on 22−23 October, Urunov noted that market access negotiations for services had been completed, “with some minor issues left” regarding market access for goods.
He previously said that Uzbekistan still had to complete talks with Russia, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and other countries.
At a meeting with entrepreneurs in August, president Shavkat Mirziyoyev called WTO membership a “well-thought and far-sighted choice, as well as an integral part of our reforms”. “Our economy needed protection to some extent in the past. But If we continue down this path, our opportunities will be limited,” he emphasized.
Deputy prime minister Jamshid Khodjaev stated in May that Uzbekistan intended to access the WTO by 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to take place in Cameroon in 2026.
