Kazakh President met with WTO Director-General

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the development of trade and economic cooperation in the current situation in the world, and also discussed the preparations for the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Astana in 2020.

"I am glad to welcome you again in our capital. We remember the active support you rendered to Kazakhstan during the accession to the WTO. Today our country is an active member of the Organization. It was decided to hold a conference in Astana in 2020. We will do our best to organize this event at the proper level", the President of Kazakhstan said.

The Head of State noted that Kazakhstan fully supports the fundamental principles of the WTO in strengthening and expanding trade and economic relations between the countries.

In his turn, Roberto Azevedo thanked Nursultan Nazarbayev for the hospitality and this opportunity to discuss further cooperation between Kazakhstan and the WTO.

"Since our last meeting in Geneva, we can state the deepening of cooperation between Kazakhstan and the WTO. Your country has always been committed to the principles of developing a multilateral trading system. We are pleased that Kazakhstan has agreed to host the Ministerial Conference in 2020. This is especially important in the context of the current events in the world", the WTO Director-General stressed.

R. Azevedo also dwelled on the possible consequences of the trade and economic conflict between the world's leading powers for the rest of the world.