Australia and China ended their second round of talks on establishing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in Beijing Wednesday.

 

A Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said both sides felt satisfied with the result of the three-day talks, and that they were helpful in improving understanding of each other's trade mechanisms.

 

The third round of talks is expected to be held by the end of October this year, according to the spokesperson.

 

The meeting was co-chaired by Zhang Xiangchen, deputy director of the ministry's World Trade Department, and Ric Wells, a senior Australian trade official.

 

During Australian Prime Minister John Howard's visit to Beijing in April, his country recognized China's full market economy status and the two sides agreed to start FTA negotiations.

 

The first round of FTA talks began in Sydney on May 23. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 25, 2005)