Beijing supports Asian free-trade area

Premier Wen Jiabao said on Monday China supports pushing forward an Asian free-trade area, which will cover 28 percent of world’s total export volume. Previous reports said China is expected to make announcements on Tuesday in Phnom Penh that it will join the talks for the Asian free-trade area, namely the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, and join hands with Japan and South Korea to start trilateral negotiations on their own free trade area. The RCEP talks will help integrate ASEAN, which has been divided amid the progress of the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership and elevated ASEAN’s leading role in the region, experts said. …

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-11/20/content_15942795.htm