Bids to destroy WTO or lower its role counter-productive - Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives for an welcome and family photo session at G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 28, 2019. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/Pool

OSAKA (Reuters) - Attempts to lower the role of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) or to destroy it are counter-productive, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.

"This is clear that it (global trade) needs to be adapted to the present-day developments," Putin told a meeting of leaders from BRICS nations on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan's western city of Osaka.