Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on October 23. (Thai Government House photo) Bangkok (VNA) - The Japanese administration has shown its supportfor Thailand in concluding the long-delayed Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) agreement this year when the kingdom assumes Chair of theAssociation of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Thai Government House announced on October 23 that PM Prayut Chan-o-cha receivedthe backing during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe inTokyo, after he flew to Japan to attend the enthronement ceremony of Japanese EmperorNaruhito on October 22.
The announcement said the two leaders agreed on the need to conclude the RCEP,and Tokyo reiterated its support for Thailand to join the Comprehensive andProgressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade pact.
Thailand hopes attempts by the 10 ASEAN members and six free-trade partners tofinalise the RCEP will be completed in Bangkok next month when Thailand hoststhe 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
The RCEP is a free trade agreement between ASEAN and its six free trade agreementpartners -- China, Japan, India, the Republic of Korea, Australia and NewZealand. Negotiations on the pact began in 2013 and were initially expected tobe concluded two years later. However, the conclusion has been delayed for manytimes.
Once signed, the agreement will create the largest free trade area in theworld, housing about 3.5 billion people and accounting for 30 percent of globalGDP./.
VNA
