Seoul, May 13 -- The ninth round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) between Malaysia and the Republic of Korea (RoK) is set to begin from May 13, according to the RoK's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

The latest round of talks for an FTA is scheduled to kick off in Kuala Lumpur for a three-day run, involving some 70 trade officials from the two countries.

The two countries are seeking to make progress in eight separate areas, including market access for goods and services, as well as economic cooperation, the ministry said.

Following a five-year hiatus, the two nations agreed to resume their FTA negotiations in March last year.

The RoK already has an FTA with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (...