New Australia-China FTA talks begin
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-08-23 08:47

Australia and China began a second round of talks on a free trade agreement that could eventually be worth some 20 billion dollars to the Australian economy, officials said, AFP reported.

Ric Wells, a senior trade official, was leading the Australian delegation in talks with Zhang Xiangchen, vice director of China's Ministry of Commerce's world trade department, officials from both sides said.

Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile last week said the free trade agreement was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for his country and urged his negotiators to outline barriers faced by Australian industry in doing business with China during the talks.

The Australian negotiating team has consulted widely with business and other groups over the past four months and a range of interests and concerns had also been raised in more than 260 written public submissions.

The talks are seen as still in the preliminary stages, diplomats said.

The two governments agreed to begin the free trade talks during a meeting in Beijing in April between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Since then Australia and China have agreed to establish four working groups for the negotiations covering agriculture, trade in goods, trade in services, investment and other trade facilitation issues.

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