China calls for Early Conclusion of talks on free Trade Pact

Bangkok: Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang on Sunday pushed for an early conclusion of talks on a mega free-trade pact amid persisting doubts over the proposed multilateral agreement between 10 ASEAN countries and their six trading partners.

Li was speaking before the start of a bilateral meeting between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the sidelines of the annual summit of the regional bloc that will be held until Monday here, reports Efe news. Leaders of the Southeast Asian countries and several other nations have gathered in the Thai capital for the annual summit to boost their partnerships with the regional bloc amid an unending trade dispute between the US and China. Li highlighted the country’s high expectations about the 16-nation trade partnership that will cover almost half of the world’s population and bring together a third of the global GDP. He hoped that the pact would be signed next year. (IANS)

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