Australia pushing free-trade talks with China

Australia, which is relying heavily on the continuing growth of China for economic stimulus, is looking for a free-trade agreement with the Asian giant, Australian trade minister Simon Crean said.

Speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Association on Tuesday, Crean said the two countries would open discussions in Canberra next week.

The minister said Australia was also in talks with Japan and South Korea and was studying a deal with India.

The Australia-China free-trade negotiations hit a technical snag last year while diplomatic ties also suffered a series of setbacks during the year.

"The key market access areas of these negotiations have been difficult, and negotiations have taken longer than we would have hoped," Crean noted.

Australia survived the global financial crisis better than any other advanced economy because the economy is plugged into Asia - the fastest growing region in the world, he said, adding that the country is continuing to make the most of its traditional trading relationships.