The prospect of founding an Asian free trade zone is optimistic and it would have a positive impact on the region, according to an Asian Development Bank expert here on Thursday.

Free trade agreement (FTA) talks among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) are under way, and Masahiro Kawai, dean of Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), said a regional FTA would help eliminate trade barriers.

It would also help growth of foreign trade among Asian countries, according to Masahiro, who made the comments at a seminar on futures of Asian FTA.

As of November 2012, a total of 80 FTAs have come into operation among Asian economies, along with many other agreements under negotiation, Masahiro said.

ADBI said 53 percent of 841 enterprises it surveyed in China, Japan, the ROK, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore are using or plan to use FTAs.

ADBI found that Chinese enterprises use FTAs most frequently as they are very active in engaging in regional or global production cooperations.

Masahiro said enterprises should learn more to use FTAs to boost exports, and governments should help them grasp a better understanding of FTA items.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are essential for China's economic growth, and the country should support SMEs to better use FTA, according to Masahiro.

A FTA eliminates tariffs, import quotas and preferences on most (if not all) goods and services traded among economies that have signed it.

China, Japan and the ROK launched FTA negotiations on Nov. 20 during a series of meetings of East Asian leaders in Cambodia's Phnom Penh.