China and New Zealand held the eighth round of talks aimed at
establishing a free trade area last week and positive progress was
made, said China's Ministry of Commerce in Beijing on Monday.
If talks succeed it will be China's first free trade area with a
developed country.
During the five-day meeting, delegates from China and New
Zealand discussed trade in goods and services, investment and
intellectual property rights.
They also discussed rules for determining the origin of goods as
well as inspection and quarantine of animals and plants, said the
ministry.
Premier Wen Jiabao visited New Zealand in April. The two
countries' leaders exchanged ideas on free trade and decided to
achieve an agreement within the next two years.
Also on the agenda during the eighth round of talks were
measures to implement the results of the leaders' meeting and
strengthening common understanding between the two parties, the
ministry said.
The ninth round of talks are to be held in New Zealand this
October, said the ministry.
New Zealand is the first developed country that recognized
China's market economy status. China is New Zealand's fourth
largest export market and trade partner, according to statistics
from the ministry.
(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2006)
