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Japan cool about free trade zone with ASEAN

Japan has played down the prospect of establishing a free trade area with Southeast Asia in the immediate future.

Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told his Thai counterpart Thaksin Shinawatra in Bangkok that while Japan wanted to broaden its economic relationship with the region, it was too early to talk of a free trade area.

Japan wants to first build cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the areas of investment, technology, education and tourism.

China and ASEAN last November agreed to bring down trade barriers in 10 years.

12/01/2002 4:00:11 PM | ABC Radio Australia News

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