The negotiators, also from Australia, New Zealand, the US, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, and Peru are expected to seat for four days, focusing their discussions on obstacles in services, e-trade and green technology facing their businesses.

According to Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean, the TPP negotiation is very important as the pact will make headway towards achieving the long-term goal of a free trade area for the Asia-Pacific region.

The TPP will help strengthen economic integration within the region and work to support the Doha talks, which remain trapped in difficulties, said the Australian minister.

The TPP talks are expected to have four rounds of negotiation in 2010, with the next round scheduled for June.

The nations involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks are home to 470 million people and have a combined GDP of US$16.2 trillion.