Vietnam, Japan to start FTA talks

cctv.com 02-07-2006 11:43

ASEAN member Vietnam and Japan will begin their first round of negotiations on a free trade agreement, or FTA, in mid-February.

The Vietnamese Trade Ministry says the two countries are expected to focus on industry, service and agriculture. In 2005, they posted bilateral trade of over 8 billion US dollars. More than 4 and a half billion came from Vietnamese exports, mainly garments, textiles, seafood, electric wire, woodwork, coal and crude oil. Key Japanese exports include machinery and equipment. ASEAN has been in formal FTA negotiations with Japan since last April. The implementation of the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership, including elements of a possible free trade area, will be completed by 2012.

Editor:Chen Zhuo  Source:CCTV.com