Experts: ASEAN free-trade agreement is a win-win deal

The free-trade area with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is expected to increase the Chinese presence in the fast-growing market - which has attracted the world's major powers including Japan and the US - and accelerate the integration in East Asia, Chinese experts said yesterday.

The world's largest free-trade area (FTA) in terms of population came into force on Friday, as most goods flowing across the borders between China and the 10 members of ASEAN attracted zero or little tariff. In terms of GDP, the FTA is only smaller than the European Union and North American Free Trade Area.

"ASEAN, as an emerging but huge marketplace, is attractive to all," said Fan Ying, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University.