FTA a focus of Burke`s trip to China

A free trade agreement with China will be discussed during Agriculture Minister Tony
Burke's visit to China and Hong Kong.
The federal minister has flown to China to push Australia's support for agricultural
trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
Topping his list will be discussions with Chinese counterparts on ways to stop
illegal logging and the trade in timber from illegally-logged forests.
He will also seek an agreement from China to work collaboratively on supporting
global food supplies and will try to step up negotiations on a free trade agreement
with China.
During his trip, he will also attend a G8 agriculture ministers' meeting to discuss
global food security and climate change, and the 2009 International Forum on Chinese
Medicine, where discussions will focus on bilateral trade.
"As major agriculture-producing nations, Australia and China have a shared interest
in reducing barriers to international trade," Mr Burke said in a statement.
The minister will also be promoting Australia's wine market during his trip. He is
expected to sign two memorandums of understanding with China and Hong Kong.
The agreements will help Australian winemakers tap into the region's growing market.