"The idea is to create a free trade zone within SCO," he noted.
According to him, the SCO long-term program on economic cooperation implies "certain measures to achieve this goal". However, the fact that China and Kyrgyzstan have already become WTO members while Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are still negotiating on their joining the WTO "hampers the implementation of this plan", he said. Nevertheless, all SCO member-states have achieved mutual understanding on all issues of the implementation, Alexander Ivanov added.
In his words, four expert groups were formed to consider investment, trade and customs issues and implementation of practical trade and economic programs for the near future. "The formation of the SCO Common Economic Space is a program not for the next 2-3 years but for decades," Alexander Ivaniov stressed.
