During the talks, expected to continue until late May, the delegation will discuss all issues to be included in a Working Party report containing conditions of entry and a Protocol of Accession, which is part of the final WTO "accession package."
Medvedkov said as part of the preparations of the final documentation, "Russia will discuss with its major trading partners such issues as customs and technical regulations, protection of intellectual property and state support for the agricultural sector."
State agricultural subsidies remain a key issue still to be coordinated with the U.S. and the Cairns Group, a coalition of 19 agriculture exporting countries.
Despite the recent government reshuffle in Russia, Medvedkov will "for the time being" remain Russia's chief WTO negotiator.
Russia has been seeking membership of the global trade body since 1993. So far, Moscow has concluded bilateral talks with over 60 states, but still needs to complete discussions with two WTO members - Saudi Arabia and Georgia.
On May 4, Georgia refused to continue talks on Russia's WTO bid until Moscow reviewed its decision for closer ties with Georgia's breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
