UPDATE 2-Top Russian govt economist hopeful on WTO talks
* Russian official says WTO talks 'on track'
* Top adviser sees major inflows on capital to Russia
* Russia sees privatization as a means to spur competition (Recasts first paragraph; adds details, background, byline)
By Glenn Somerville
WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - A top Russian government economist said on Friday he hoped negotiations will be done by mid-2011 for Russia to join the World Trade Organization, a move the Obama administration has said it would welcome.
Arkady Dvorkovich, chief economic adviser to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, also said the 2007-2009 financial crisis had pushed Russian authorities to speed reforms to make their economy more competitive and open to innovation.
"We are hopeful that by the middle of next year we can actually announce that all negotiations are completed" for entry to the WTO," Dvorkovich said.
He was speaking by satellite from Moscow to a meeting of the European Institute in Washington.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama voiced strong support for Russian membership in the global trade body and said the United States would make every effort see it happen.
"Welcoming Russia to the WTO would be good for them, but it would also be good for us and good for the global economy," Obama said at a meeting of his Export Council advisers.
BIGGEST ECONOMY OUTSIDE WTO
Russia has a $1.2 trillion economy, compared with the United States' $13 trillion one, and is the largest outside the WTO. Moscow wants to join by the end of next year and has largely resolved bilateral issues with the United States and the European Union.
* Top adviser sees major inflows on capital to Russia
* Russia sees privatization as a means to spur competition (Recasts first paragraph; adds details, background, byline)
By Glenn Somerville
WASHINGTON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - A top Russian government economist said on Friday he hoped negotiations will be done by mid-2011 for Russia to join the World Trade Organization, a move the Obama administration has said it would welcome.
Arkady Dvorkovich, chief economic adviser to Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, also said the 2007-2009 financial crisis had pushed Russian authorities to speed reforms to make their economy more competitive and open to innovation.
"We are hopeful that by the middle of next year we can actually announce that all negotiations are completed" for entry to the WTO," Dvorkovich said.
He was speaking by satellite from Moscow to a meeting of the European Institute in Washington.
On Thursday, President Barack Obama voiced strong support for Russian membership in the global trade body and said the United States would make every effort see it happen.
"Welcoming Russia to the WTO would be good for them, but it would also be good for us and good for the global economy," Obama said at a meeting of his Export Council advisers.
BIGGEST ECONOMY OUTSIDE WTO
Russia has a $1.2 trillion economy, compared with the United States' $13 trillion one, and is the largest outside the WTO. Moscow wants to join by the end of next year and has largely resolved bilateral issues with the United States and the European Union.
