SINGAPORE: Economic ministers of ASEAN on Tuesday pledged to work for the speedy ratification of an economic partnership agreement with Japan.

Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministers "resolved to ratify the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership as soon as possible," they said in a joint statement.

Japan had earlier ratified the pact, the core of which is a free trade agreement covering goods and services.

Singapore has already agreed but it was still unclear which other ASEAN states have done so.

Under the deal, about 90 percent of trade between Asia's largest economy and the 10-nation ASEAN, which has a combined population of 550 million, will be tariff-free within 10 years.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. - AFP/de