Japan and South Korea announced in Jakarta on September 4 that they will begin talks on free trade area (FTA) with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.

"ASEAN and Japan agreed to commence negotiations on FTA in April 2005, all are committed to endeavor that the negotiations will be completed within two years," Indonesian Industry and TradeMinister Rini Soewandi said at a press conference which was also attended by the trade ministers of ASEAN countries, Japan and South Korea.

"South Korea also agreed on FTA negotiations that will begin in January 2005 to be completed within two years, and on a possible realization of a FTA by 2009," Rini added.

She made the remarks shortly after leading the ASEAN ministers in subsequent meetings with their counterparts from China, Japan and South Korea earlier in the day.

On the occasion, Japanese Trade Minister Shoichi Nakagawa asserted that preparations for FTA negotiations will go on and that he came to the meeting "to represent my government to reach an agreement with ASEAN countries."

He said during the ASEAN-Japan summit last year, it was expected that FTA activities would begin in 2012 between Japan and six ASEAN original members and in 2017 with four ASEAN newer countries.

ASEAN original members are Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei, while Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar joined the regional grouping later.

Meanwhile, South Korean Trade Minister Kim Hyun-Chong said the year 2009 is seen is a good target for the FTA implementation.

"However, I need to go to an internal process to attain the consent of non-economic ministers back in Korea with respect to these dates," he said.