China has shown strong support for Russia’s accession this year to the World Trade Organization or WTO.

According to Chen Deming, China’s Commerce Minister, as quoted by the China Daily, that it is uncalled for, for Russia to be kept out from the multilateral trading system.

This was a statement that Mr. Deming announced, in Sanya, at a joint news conference that happened after the very first meeting of the economic and trade ministers from the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).

It was a decade and eight years ago when Russia first applied to join the global trade framework. And they are hoping to settle accession negotiations before the year ends.

Other than the 153 WTO member countries, Russia is deemed the largest economy.

According to Russia’s Deputy Economic-Development Minister, Oleg Fomichev, he is very confident that finding the middle ground will all be done this year.