The trade ministers of South Korea and Japan will meet in the Philippines this weekend, a Seoul official said Monday, amid their ongoing efforts to sign a free trade deal that also involves China.

Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Yoon Sang-jick will hold talks with his Japanese counterpart Yoichi Miyazawa on Saturday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation trade ministers' meeting, Woo Tae-hee, South Korea's deputy trade minister, told a press briefing.

"Seoul and Tokyo are still working to set a list of topics for discussion at the bilateral trade ministers' meeting," Woo said.

The trade ministers' talks between South Korea and Japan will be the first of their kind since April 2013. The APEC meeting is set to be held in Boracay, the Philippines, over the weekend.

The scheduled meeting between Seoul and Tokyo comes amid the countries' efforts to sign a three-way free trade agreement with China.

No significant progress has yet to be made despite seven rounds of negotiations for the proposed trilateral FTA since March 2013, Seoul officials have said. The latest round was held in Seoul earlier in the month.

Seoul and Tokyo are also taking part in negotiations for a separate regional FTA, known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which currently involves China and 13 other countries, including all 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (Yonhap)