China, Japan, S. Korea to start talks for free trade pactNovember 19, 2012 - 13:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - South Korea's trade minister says South Korea, China and Japan will soon start talks for a free trade pact encompassing the three Asian economic powers, The Associated Press reported. Bark Tae-ho said Monday, Nov 19, that the decision to start talks will be officially announced Tuesday at the East Asia Summit in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. Bark said the trade pact would help boost economic growth and pave the way for more stable political relationships in the region where China and Japan have been at odds over the sovereignty of islands in the East China Sea. Relations between South Korea and Japan have also been strained by a territorial dispute. China and Japan are the world's second and third biggest economies. South Korea is the 15th largest and home to giant companies such as Samsung. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. |