China to expedite negotiations of free trade agreement with Japan and S. Korea

China is willing to work with Japan and South Korea to expedite the resumption of negotiations on the trilateral free trade agreement, making positive contributions to the stable recovery of the regional and global economies, said the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.

Speaking at a news conference in Beijing, Shu Jueting, the ministry's spokeswoman, said China attaches great importance to the China-Japan-South Korea FTA talks.

With the implementation of the agreement of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership pact, positive conditions have been created for the resumption of China-Japan-South Korea FTA negotiations, said Shu.

The three countries have high industrial interdependence and strong economic complementarity. Once the trilateral FTA is achieved, it will promote further mutual market opening, reduce trade barriers, enhance trade and investment, and optimize the business environment based on the existing free trade cooperation, she said, adding this will bring tangible benefits to businesses and people in all three countries.