Korea, China 'Likely to Launch FTA Talks in 2011'

Talks on a free trade agreement with China will likely begin next year, according to Korean Ambassador to China Yu Woo-ik.

In an interview with China's state-run English-language newspaper the China Daily on Thursday, Yu said the two countries "are expected to initiate official FTA talks in 2011."

Korea and China completed a 38-month joint feasibility study for an FTA on May 28. They have agreed to start preliminary consultations on thorny issues in September before launching full-fledged negotiations.