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Malaysian minister: RCEP mulls expansion

Member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will discuss the admission of new members and seek ways to boost trade flows when their leaders meet in October.

Malaysia's Trade Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz speaks during an interview with Reuters at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 5, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)
Malaysia's Trade Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz speaks during an interview with Reuters at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia March 5, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz said on September 22 that member countries of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will discuss the admission of new members and seek ways to boost trade flows when their leaders meet in October.

Malaysia plans to hold a summit of the RCEP, the world's largest trade bloc, when it hosts the annual gathering of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur.

Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said the meeting will allow members to suggest improvements to the RCEP trade deal and consider requests from some countries to join the bloc. "We want to focus on issues that will help RCEP members," Tengku Zafrul told Reuters.

RCEP currently has 15 members, comprising the 10 ASEAN countries along with China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Taking effect on January 1, 2022, the agreement has helped strengthen regional cooperation and promote shared benefits./.

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