Hatoyama to propose early conclusion of FTAs with China, S. Korea

TOKYO, Oct. 6 Kyodo -
Japan will propose concluding free trade agreements with China and South Korea
at an early date at a tripartite summit to be held in Beijing on Saturday,
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was quoted as saying Tuesday.
He made the pledge in response to a request by Fujio Mitarai, chairman of the
Japan Business Federation, the nation's most powerful business lobby known as
Nippon Keidanren, said a federation official.
Hatoyama also agreed with Mitarai to call on China to strengthen protection of
intellectual property rights in the country where copyright piracy is
widespread, the official said.
The prime minister was holding talks with Mitarai for the first time since he
took office in September to prepare for his weekend meeting with Chinese
Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak.
Fujio Cho, chairman of Toyota Motor Corp., and Sadayuki Sakakibara, president
of Toray Industries Inc., were also present at the meeting in the prime
minister's office.
Hatoyama called for the meeting as he will attend talks between Japanese, South
Korean and Chinese business leaders on the sidelines of the tripartite summit.
==Kyodo