China urges quick action to plan and create an Asia-Pacific free trade area (FTA), a senior official with the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Wednesday.

China has proposed forming a working group to study the feasibility of the Asia-Pacific free trade agreement, said the MOC’s Assistant Minister Wang Shouwen at a press conference on this year’s trade ministerial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

A free trade agreement will solve the problems caused by barriers between different FTAs, such as distinct rules and requirements, Wang added.

This year’s APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting will be held in November in Beijing.