The fifth round of free trade negotiations between New Zealand and China concluded Thursday in Wellington.

China's commerce counselor Liu Linlin told Xinhua that the two sides discussed service trade, customs cooperation, investment conditions and lowering the tariff in the four-day talks.

"Both sides furthered understanding and sorted out direction and steps in the future talks," said Liu.

The two countries agreed late last year to work out a free trade deal. The talks are seen as complex, with both sides having concerns about the potential impact of a deal on sensitive industries.

For New Zealand there are worries about how the manufacturing sector would cope, while Chinese are concerned about agriculture, said the experts.

Liu said the two side are satisfied with pace of the talks and the 6th round of negotiations was set for March next year in Beijing.

Source: Xinhua