An Australian senior trade official said Tuesday that the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement is the most comprehensive trade agreement that Australia has ever negotiated.
Australia was happy to see the conclusion of negotiations of the FTA with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean.
The conclusion of the negotiations with the ASEAN will facilitate the conclusion of bilateral talks for an FTA between Australia and Malaysia, he said when giving a lecture at Monash University near here.
The Malaysia-Australia FTA talks reportedly began in July 2005.It was expected to be concluded in 2007, but delayed due to some certain sensitive issues.
The negotiations could be concluded in 2009 or as soon as possible if both sides agreed, said Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
Officials from both countries would meet here next month on the FTA negotiations, he told reporters after the 14th Australia-Malaysia Joint Trade Committee meeting here on Tuesday.
Crean was here attending the joint committee meeting here.
At Monash University, Crean also said that Australia currently was negotiating further FTAs with Japan, China and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
His country is also looking into starting negotiations with South Korea as well as Indonesia and India.
Source:Xinhua
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