Japan, Mongolia agree to study possibility of bilateral FTA+

TOKYO, Dec. 17 Kyodo -
Japan and Mongolia on Thursday agreed to hold working-level talks to study
whether the two countries should conclude a bilateral free trade agreement, the
Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
The agreement was reached between Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and
his Mongolian counterpart Gombojavyn Zandanshatar in Tokyo, who expressed his
country's intention an seeking an FTA.
Zandanshatar is visiting Japan for the first time since he assumed the post of
minister of foreign affairs and trade in November.
During the working-level talks, the two countries hope to look into the
economic benefits of an economic partnership agreement. The talks will be a
step toward considering the launching of government-private sector research on
the matter, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.
An economic partnership agreement goes beyond a free trade agreement, which
aims mainly at removing tariffs on goods and trade barriers for services, and
covers areas such as intellectual property rights and investment protection
rules.
Meanwhile, Zandanshatar also voiced hope that Japan would cooperate in his
country's development of mineral resources, such as uranium. Okada promised to
enhance Japan's support, according to the official.
==Kyodo
2009-12-17 22:56:32