China expects Russia to join the World Trade Organization at an early date, a Chinese diplomat said in Beijing on Friday.

"China believes that Russia's entry will contribute to the universality and representativeness of the WTO, and expand the influence of the multilateral trading system," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said at a daily press conference.

Georgia and Russia signed an agreement in Geneva on Wednesday, under the mediation of Switzerland, which is believed to have removed a vital hurdle for Russia joining the 153-member trade bloc.

China is among the first WTO members which concluded bilateral market access negotiations with Russia.

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