China hopes for transparent U.S.-led TPP talks

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China has been following the talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and hopes for more transparency in the discussions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said on Friday.

Hong's remarks came after the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, Francisco J. Sanchez, said the United States welcomes China to join the TPP.

The TPP, an Asia-Pacific regional trade agreement, is being negotiated among the United States and 11 other partners -- Canada, Mexico, Peru,Chile, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Japan.

China began talks this month with 15 other Asian countries on a separate trade agreement called the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The pact will include China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Hong said China is open-minded about cooperation initiatives that are conducive to economic integration and common prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, including the TPP and the RCEP.

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