China and New Zealand on Monday agreed to accelerate the talks on building a China-New Zealand Free Trade Area (FTA).

 

Chinese Minister of Commerce Bo Xilai and visiting New Zealand Minister of Trade Phil Goff reached the agreement during a meeting.

 

China and New Zealand reached a consensus on FTA negotiation during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to New Zealand last April.

 

"China will work with New Zealand for a substantial progress of the talks on the basis of balanced interests, as leaders of the two countries have set," Bo said.

 

Goff said a New Zealand-China FTA will help deepen bilateral cooperation and New Zealand wishes the talks would achieve result as soon as possible.

 

The two ministers exchanged views on specific matters concerning the building of FTA, including manufactured goods, principle of origin and service trade among others.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2006)