SYDNEY, March 19 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) - Colombian Foreign Minister Jaime Bermudez met Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean today and discussed his country's interest in entering the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

Since Mon March 15, eight nations are here negotiating the agreement in a first round of talks ending later today.

Meanwhile Colombia also hopes to join the Forum of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) with Australia's support, Bermudes said.

In a meeting with his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith yesterday the visitor expressed his intention to approach Australia for support to join APEC.

Smith said that Colombia is an economy of the Pacific ocean region which justifies its interest, although the block keeps a moratorium on accepting new members and there are no signs of lifting it this year, he said.

APEC is composed of Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, South Korea, U.S, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam. -- NNN-PRENSA LATINA