Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said on Saturday that negotiations on establishing FTA (Free Trade Area) with the Republic of Korea (ROK) should start as early as possible.

China and the ROK governments, as well as academic and business circles, have conducted discussions over the establishment of the FTA, said Yang at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session.

"Promoting research and discussions so as to launch FTA negotiations on an early date is conducive to both sides," he said.

Last year, the trade volume between China and ROK was nearly 200 billion yuan (US$29.4 billion) and the volume between China and Japan surpassed 200 billion yuan, he said.

China, Japan and ROK should set an example of opposing protectionism on trade and investment.

A further expansion of the bilateral market between China and ROK would be helpful to boosting Asia's confidence in combating the financial crisis and serve the interest of both countries and people in Asia.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2009)