WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The United States will join negotiations on investment and financial services set to begin in March with Singapore, Chile, New Zealand and Brunei, known as the "P-4" group of countries, a top U.S. trade official said on Monday.

    "We see these investment and financial services negotiations as an opportunity to further our engagement with countries committed to high-standard trade agreements," said U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab in a statement.

    "This initiative also will provide another opportunity for the United States to participate in the regional trade architecture that is emerging in the vitally important Asia-Pacific region," she added.

    As it begins investment and financial services negotiations with the P-4 countries, the United States will also begin a detailed exploratory process to determine whether it should participate in the full Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership, according to a statement released by Schwab's office.

    "Participation could provide a pathway to broader Asia-Pacific regional economic integration with like-minded countries committed to high-standard agreements," said the statement, adding the U.S. is already pursuing further regional economic integration in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) through intensive exploration of multilateral or bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs).