November 19, 2006	Sunday	Shawwal 26, 1427

HANOI, Nov 18: Malaysia said on Saturday it had launched talks with Chile on reaching a free trade deal, which would be its first such agreement with a Latin American economy.

The announcement came after a meeting between Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Chile's President Michelle Bachelet on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.

“The FTA has the potential to increase trade, investment cross flows and economic cooperation between the two countries,” said a statement.—AFP