MOSCOW, Oct 11: Russian trade negotiators have made good progress in talks with Canada aimed at pushing forward Moscow’s bid to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), a senior Russian trade official said on Tuesday.

“Progress has been made. The situation has changed for the better,” the head of trade talks at Russia’s economics ministry, Maxim Medvedkov, was quoted by ITAR-TASS news agency as saying.

Talks with Canadian officials that began on Monday have focussed on access to Russia’s aviation technology, meat and energy services markets, Medvedkov said.

Russia hopes to wrap up all negotiations on WTO membership by the end of this year and to join next year.

Following the current talks with Canada, a new round will begin in Geneva on Thursday between Russia and Brazil, to be followed by talks with Argentina, Australia and the United States, Medvedkov said.—AFP