Russia is likely to have "difficult" talks with China on accession terms to the World Trade Organisation, a Russian economic development ministry official told the PRIME-TAss news agency on Wednesday.

The official said China, which recently gained WTO membership, had put forward "tough" conditions for Russia's accession to the global trade regulation body, including opening the Russian labour market to foreign workers, lowering import duties and cancelling export duties, the agency reported.

Russia believes such demands exceed the standard accession terms applied to other countries seeking WTO membership.

Bilateral talks between Russian and Chinese officials started Wednesday in Beijing.

China joined the WTO last December.