After remaining silent during the WTO meeting in Hong Kong, December 2005, China has decided to focus on the bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) and play a lead role in multilateral trade discussions during the year 2006.

The mainland looks forward to negotiate FTAs with 27 countries this year, says Bo Xilai, Commerce Minister.

The country has settled deals with Chile, the 10-member Asean group, and Thailand, till the date, he informed.

Efforts for signing FTA deals and a drive to convince more of China's partners to recognize it as a market economy go hand-in-hand.

China would be recognized as a market economy in 2014 under the terms of its accession of WTO.

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