TOKYO, Nov. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The Japanese government plans to compile a trade policy next month to further promote free trade agreements (FTA) with economic partners, Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Friday.

    Six ministers in charge of FTA talks informally agreed earlier in the day to promote FTAs, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Seiken Sugiura said.

    To implement the policy, the government will work out criteria for selecting potential FTA partners.

    Japanese and Philippine trade ministers reached a basic agreement in Santiago, Chile, last week to conclude a bilateral FTA. Koizumi and Arroyo are expected to endorse the accord in a meeting on the sidelines of a series of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summits starting Monday in Vientiane.

    As for other FTA negotiations, Japan is hoping to conclude talkswith Malaysia and Thailand by the end of this year and with South Korea next year.

    Japan also plans to start negotiations with ASEAN as a whole next April. It launched a joint study panel with Chile last week.

    Japan has concluded FTAs with Singapore and Mexico.           Enditem