China, Australia announce virtual conclusion of FTA negotiations  

中國與澳大利亞實質性結束自貿協定談判

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced in Canberra on Monday that their countries have practically completed negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA).

The announcement capped nine years of bilateral FTA talks. China has now become Australia's largest trading partner, export market and source of imports.

Reaching a China-Australia FTA will be of great significance to the two countries' economic relations, Chinese Vice Finance Minister Zhu Guangyao said on the sidelines of the just-concluded Group of Twenty (G20) summit in Brisbane. [Special coverage]

Xi is paying a state visit to Australia after attending the G20 summit.