RCEP in spotlight at 37th ASEAN Summit: The Strait Times
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be in the spotlight at the 37th ASEAN Summit which is virtually hosted by Vietnam from November 12 – 15, according to Singapore’s The Strait Times.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be in the spotlight at the 37th ASEAN Summit which is virtually hosted by Vietnam from November 12 – 15. (Photo: VNA)
Singapore (VNA) – The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) willbe in the spotlight at the 37th ASEAN Summit which is virtually hosted byVietnam from November 12 – 15, according to Singapore’s The Strait Times.
The conclusion ofthe region-wide trade deal has been a key goal of the grouping this year, thenewspaper said. If everything falls into place, the RCEP will be the world'slargest trade pact, even without the inclusion of India which pulled out lastyear.
The deal involves15 countries, including ASEAN's 10 member states, China, Japan, the Republic ofKorea (RoK), Australia, andNew Zealand. Together, they contribute about one-third of the world's gross domesticproduct (GDP).
ASEAN alone has apopulation of nearly 640 million people and a combined GDP of 2.57 trillionUSD. The bloc is forecast to become the fourth-largest economy in the world by2030.
Senior Indonesiantrade official Iman Pambagyo, who chairs the RCEP Trade Negotiating Committee,told The Straits Times that participating countries hope the agreement willdrive economic recovery in the next two years in the region, where a regionalsupply chain has been built, thanks to existing free trade deals between ASEANand its trading partners.
Against thebackdrop of low confidence in the multilateral trading system, ongoing tradetensions amongst a number of countries, rising protectionism and the impact ofCOVID-19, the signing of the RCEP is a signal to the world and businesses thatcountries in this region remain optimistic and have a forward-lookingorientation in terms of deepening and expanding regional economic integrationto play a bolder role in the global value chain, Iman said.
On November 12, ASEANleaders will have their annual summits with China, India, Japan and the RoK.The ASEAN-Japan Summit will see the launch of the new ASEAN Centre for PublicHealth Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED). The inaugural ASEAN WomenLeaders' Summit will also take place later the same day.
On November 14, ASEANleaders will have summits with the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as the ASEANPlus Three Summit with China, Japan and the RoK. The East Asia Summit (EAS)will cap that day's meetings./.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, expected to be signed on November 15 within the framework of the 37th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi, will be the world’s largest free trade agreement (FTA) and is a significant boost for ASEAN businesses, including those in Vietnam, according to insiders.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) should be signed early as it is good for all signatories, including the Republic of Korea (RoK), Director of the RoK’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies’ Center for ASEAN and Oceania Studies Lee Jae-hyon told the Vietnam News Agency.
The signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be a testament to the world on ASEAN and its trading partners’ efforts in strengthening the multilateral trading system, a Malaysian minister has said.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has weighed heavily on the global economy, members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have seen economic exchanges heat up, including surging trade and investment inflows, thanks to deepened bilateral economic ties.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be in the spotlight at the 37th ASEAN Summit which is virtually hosted by Vietnam from November 12 – 15. (Photo: VNA)
