BEIJING — China and Maldives have begun a feasibility study on a free trade area (FTA) between the two countries, according to China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Feb 5.

Officials from the two countries held the first feasibility study meeting on Feb 4 and 5 in Male, capital of the islands, said the MOC.

The meeting discussed the methodology of the study, division of tasks, the framework and main contents of the feasibility report, and the next steps of the joint working group.

They reached agreement on the study scope and the responsibilities of both sides.

As two friendly neighbors, China and Maldives have stable and smooth relations.

In 2014, trade between the two countries reached $104 million, up 6.7 percent from 2013, official data showed.