Russia expects New Zealand to join the free trade zone and the Customs Union in late May, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, News Kazakhstan reports.
The document is expected to be signed at a meeting in APEC, Lavrov said at a press conference with New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully.
The Russian minister is on a visit to the Asian-Pacific Region. He has visited Japan and Brunei Darusallam. Lavrov will then visit Australia and the Fiji Island. Russia is chairing the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation this year.
Auckland, New Zealand, is the third stop in Lavrov’s journey. He plans negotiations with Prime Minister John Key, Foreign Minister Murray McCully, leader of the Labor Party David Shirer.
Stress will be put on preparations for the APEC summit in Vladivostok.
Russia has been in contact with New Zealand since early 19th century after visits of Bellinsgauzen and Lazarev. Diplomatic relations started in 1944, when the USSR and New Zealand became allies in the anti-Hitler coalition.
