China-ROK-Japan FTA talks need stable relations: spokesman

BEIJING - Smooth negotiations for a free trade pact between China, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan are reliant on stable political relations between all three countries, since such talks need strong political push, a Chinese spokesman said Tuesday.

After five rounds of talks, good progress has been made toward the FTA between China and the ROK, Commerce Ministry spokesman Shen Danyang told a press conference.

"Every FTA is unique, with its level dependent upon the will and joint efforts of all the negotiating parties," said Shen, noting China is willing to continue the negotiations with the other two nations in an open-minded and pragmatic manner, Shen said.

Japan's business and trade relations with China and the ROK have been affected by strained political relations owing to Japan's stance on its past military aggression and the handling of disputed islands.

China and the ROK have concluded substantive negotiations on a bilateral FTA.

Assistant commerce minister Wang Shouwen said on Monday that all negotiations of the China-ROK FTA will be wrapped up by the end of this year. The agreement is expected to be signed in 2015 and take effect in the second half of 2015.