China’s state media agency, Xinhua reported that China, Japan and South Korea have started researching the feasibility of a free trade area (FTA) among the three Northeast Asian countries.

Representatives from China, Japan and South Korea met to discuss a possible trilateral free trade agreement, which will involve government officials, industrialists and academics. The countries will aim to complete their research by 2012.

Research institutions within the three countries have completed a nongovernmental, academic, comprehensive analysis of the establishment of the trilateral FTA. This analysis indicated an FTA could help to eliminate trade barriers, promote economic integration, and broaden regional markets.