New Zealand trade minister welcomes Asia-Pacific FTA moves

New Zealand Trade Minister Tim Groser on Wednesday welcomed moves towards a proposed Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific to be discussed at this week's Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in Beijing.[Special coverage]

Groser, who will attend APEC meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade on Nov. 7 and 8, said APEC was a vehicle for greater economic integration of the region.

"This year's movements towards the vision of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific are particularly promising," Groser said in a statement.

This year's meeting, with the theme "Shaping the Future through Asia-Pacific Partnership," was an opportunity for trade ministers to discuss the current state of play of the World Trade Organization, regional economic integration and a range of other trade related topics.

In the margins of the APEC meeting, Groser would meet with some of his trade counterparts and attend several business-related events.

The APEC ministers meeting comes ahead of the APEC Leaders Meeting on Nov. 10 and 11 which New Zealand Prime Minister John Key will attend.