STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR D.GERELMAA AT THE SIXTH MEETING OF THE WORKING PARTY ON THE ACCESSION OF UZBEKISTAN TO THE WTO

It is my great pleasure to welcome the esteemed delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Sixth Meeting of the Working Party on Accession.

Mongolia and Uzbekistan share deep historical ties that have fostered a strong relationship between our two countries. Bilateral talks and meetings at all levels including within the framework of regional cooperation are maintained to deepen our relationship in all areas of cooperation.

Our bilateral trade has been growing and we see great potential for further expansion in the future and we believe that Uzbekistan’s WTO membership will further enhance our trade and economic ties. Furthermore, the recent visit of Mongolia's Minister for Foreign Affairs to Uzbekistan, which took place on 8–9 March 2023, has highlighted the commitment of both countries to strengthening our bilateral relationship. During the visit, the two countries signed an agreement on the establishment of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation and discussed opportunities for cooperation in various fields, including trade and investment.

As fellow landlocked nations, we understand the challenges that come with developing and expanding our economies. Therefore, Mongolia do believe that Uzbekistan’s accession will lend an important voice on issues of common concern to landlocked developing members.

We are pleased to see that Uzbekistan has made significant progress in its bilateral negotiations with Mongolia and other WTO members. I am delighted to inform that Mongolia have initiated the internal process of preparing to sign a bilateral document on the accession of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the WTO. We believe that the successful conclusion of these negotiations will not only benefit our bilateral trade but also positively contribute to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system.

In light of these developments, Mongolia fully supports Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO and commend its efforts to remain committed to joining the organization.

We congratulate Uzbekistan on the progress it has made and look forward to further cooperation and collaboration in the future.