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The framework for a planned free trade agreement between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China is taking shape quickly, said a Thai official.
Economic ministers of the 10-member ASEAN and China will draw up a "road map" for the free-trade plan at their meeting next month in Brunei, Apirai Tantraporn, a senior official in the commerce ministry, was quoted by the Nation TV Channel as saying Friday.
ASEAN, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, agreed with China to establish the world's largest free-trade area within next 10 years later last year.
Thailand is negotiating with China on the issue on behalf of ASEAN.
However, Apirai said the two sides still differ on some parts of the plan, especially on the so-called "early harvest package" (EHP), a prelude to total implementation of free trade, and how to implement it.
The EHP is a framework for quick tariff reduction and tariffs on most goods will be completely eliminated within three years after its implementation. However, unlike the free-trade pact, it excludes some sensitive products like rice.
Apirai said if ASEAN and Chinese economic ministers agree on the EHP in principle when they meet next month in Brunei, it could be launched by mid-2003.
Meanwhile, she disclosed that Thailand is continuing its bilateral free-trade talks with Australia, Bahrain, South Korea and New Zealand while seeking closer economic ties with Japan and India.
(Xinhua News Agency August 16, 2002)
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