Integration of free trade agreements in East Asia urged

Commerce ministry negotiator suggests perfect scenario is to create 'common, highly-effective' zone

A senior Chinese trade official on Thursday called for the integration of free trade agreements in East Asia, while experts called for an acceleration of domestic reforms geared toward a market-oriented economy to facilitate the establishment of trade pacts.

Yu Jianhua, China's deputy international trade negotiator at the Ministry of Commerce, said at a FTA forum held in Qingdao on Thursday, "the ideal picture, we believe, is the opening-up of different FTAs to form a common, and highly effective free trade zone."