The virtual 10th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Intersessional Ministerial Meeting took place in Hanoi this June (Photo: VNA) Tokyo (VNA) – Professor Ryo Ikebefrom the Senshu University of Japan has noted that Vietnam plays an importantrole in gathering voices of 10 ASEAN members in Regional Comprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) talks.
ASEAN’s centrality is reflected in RCEPnegotiations through the voices of the 10 ASEAN members, and Vietnam has a great roleto play as the country has joined a number of free trade agreements, with theone between the EU and Vietnam (EVFTA) to take effect next month, hehighlighted.
He added that the signing of the RCEP willpromote Vietnam’s image as an advocate of free trade, thereby attracting more foreigndirect investment to the country.
RCEP was initiated in November 2012, aimingto establish an economic platform between the 10 ASEAN member states andAustralia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, focusingon trade in goods, services and investment.
If signed, the deal will create the world’slargest free trade area with a nearly 3.5 billion population and account for 30percent of the world’s gross domestic product, much bigger than theComprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP)./.
