New Zealand is very interested in concluding a bilateral free trade agreement with Japan, the country's trade and farm minister said in Tokyo on Monday.
"Let me make one thing certainly clear: I would certainly aspire to seeing a comprehensive liberalizing arrangement between us," Jim Sutton told the Japan National Press Club.
Sutton is in Tokyo for talks on agriculture and other trade matters with Cabinet ministers.
Sutton, who is both minister for agriculture and minister for trade negotiations, said he told the ministers earlier in the day that Wellington "would be interested in exploring a variety of possibilities for building a closer economic partnership between New Zealand and Japan."
But he said the New Zealand government is "realistic" and understands the proposal "will take time to become reality." Adding, "Our approach is to make progress where we can."