US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew has expressed confidence that an ambitious Asia-Pacific free trade pact under negotiation can be clinched by the end of this year.
"While we still have work to do, my conversations leave me with the hope that we can still complete TPP this year," Lew told reporters in Beijing, referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Besides the United States, the pact would include 11 other nations, among them Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Mexico, though it excludes regional powerhouse China as well as Indonesia, southeast Asia's largest economy.
Lew spoke as he wrapped up an Asian trip that also included stops in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.
"In each capital, it was clear that this is in their interest," he said of the TPP. "There was a very strong focus on economic growth and TPP as a part of that."
US President Barack Obama has said he wants to reach an accord by the end of this year on the arrangement, which would encompass more than 40 per cent of the global economy.
Washington has spearheaded negotiations, describing the TPP as creating "gold standards" for the 21st century economy by taking into account fast-changing sectors such as intellectual property.
Nevertheless, there has been resistance within some of the TPP members to many of its provisions, and views have been mixed whether a deal matching US ambitions can be concluded by the end of this year.
Separately, Indonesia and China are involved in plans for a rival pact involving 16 countries around the region, which is being spearheaded by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Regarding the broader issue of economic growth, Lew said that there was broad agreement in discussions on his trip.
"In all my conversations, there was a consistent theme - the need for strong demand-led growth where markets are open."
In China, Lew held talks with senior officials, including President Xi Jinping, Vice Premier Wang Yang and Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, the central bank.
"The common focus between the US and China is the importance of laying a foundation for future growth," Lew told reporters.
"It's in both of our interests for both of us to succeed."
In a meeting with Xi on Friday, Lew told the Chinese leader that the US and China can work together to help both themselves and the wider global economy.
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