The United States has responded positively to Malaysia's strong stand in calling for flexibility in negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

In expressing this, the US Secretary of State John Kerry said President Barack Obama was grateful to Malaysia for its committed partnership with the US.

NONEKerry (left) said: "We recognised there are always hurdles in each country, but we are prepared to be both flexible and creative in order to help countries be able to meet both the timing and the goals (of TPPA)."

The US senator also said that TPPA would help to elevate ties between Washington and Kuala Lumpur which were already enjoying a very strong economic relationship.

“Today, the US and Malaysia have a very strong economic relationship with the US being the country’s fourth-largest trading partner and largest foreign investor in Malaysian industries.

"We believe we can do more. And the TPPA, we think is the instrument to help get us there.

"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and I had a very productive meeting with the TPP leaders in Bali earlier this week. And I really look forward to working with our partners in Malaysia in order to finalise that agreement by the end of the year," he added.

During the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Bali,  Najib made a strong stand in defending Malaysia's position that flexibility was the key to a successful pact.

He had also said that Malaysia would not be a mere "yes man" in the ongoing TPPA negotiations as its priority would always be to protect the country's sovereign rights and welfare of the people.

Ultimately, the agreement must be agreed to by and benefit the Malaysian people, whereby it would be presented to the people through Parliament.

- Bernama