China, Australia aim to revive free trade talks

SINGAPORE, Nov 10 (Reuters) - Australia and China will attempt to reinvigorate stalled free trade talks later this week, Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean said on Tuesday, as the two countries put aside recent diplomatic tensions.

"I will be meeting with my Chinese counterpart Chen Deming later this week. Interestingly we have Chinese officials in Australia also this week," Crean said when asked about the resumption of free trade negotiations.

Crean and Chen will be attending meetings of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore this week. [ID:nSP535421]

China and Australia announced plans for a free trade deal in April 2005, but there have been no negotiations since the 13th round of talks in Beijing last December. [ID:nSYD400774]

China is Australia's biggest trading partner. Two-way trade was worth some A$76 billion ($70 billion) in the year to June 30, with China buying more than A$25 billion worth of Australian iron ore and coal.

Relations plummeted in June over a failed bid by China's state-owned Chinalco to buy a $19.5 billion stake in mining company Rio Tinto (RIO.L)(RIO.AX), and China's arrest of Australian Rio executive Stern Hu on corporate espionage charges.

New trade meetings would follow a visit to Australia by China's Vice Premier Li Keqiang in late October, aimed at easing tensions. [ID:nSYD394779] Crean said the trade talks stalled over China's concerns over agriculture and worries Australian agricultural imports could undermine China's domestic prices. The two countries also have unresolved differences over intellectual property rules.

"It has been difficult to advance essentially because of problems that the Chinese have in relation to agriculture. We understand those issues," Crean said, adding both countries wanted to resolve outstanding issue.

"We have to be patient with this exercise but the political will is crucially important in the Australia-China relationship. Much has happened in the last few months to strengthen that political engagement."

($1=A$1.08) (Reporting by Nopporn Wong-Anan; Writing by James Grubel, Editing by Dean Yates)