Malaysia and Japan are expected to conclude discussions on a free trade agreement (FTA) within a year, Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz said today.

Rafidah, who is leading a trade mission to Japan and South Korea, was quoted by the official Bernama news agency as saying that Japan needed more time to seek agreement from its various ministries.

Speaking from Seoul she said the proposed FTA, which comes under a framework called the Close Economic Partnership (CEP) initiative, was right on track.