Uzbekistan puts national interests first in joining int'l blocs

Source: Xinhua| 2020-02-14 20:58:04|Editor: huaxia

TASHKENT, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Uzbekistan is holding negotiations to join both the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the country's First Deputy Foreign Minister Ilkhom Nematov said Friday.

Before making any decisions, the Uzbek government will consider the pros and cons of joining such organizations and put the interests of the country first, he said at a press conference.

Since its independence, Uzbekistan has become a member of 120 international organizations and financial institutions, according to Nematov.

"We will become a member (of WTO) if we agree on comprehensive protection. The same with the Eurasian Economic Union," he said.

In January, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that joining integration groups does not mean the loss of independence and that the country is considering serving as an observer in the EAEU.

The EAEU is a regional bloc in Eurasia, whose member states include Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus and Armenia.

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