Philippine Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez on May 8 urged negotiators of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to speed up talks, reaffirming the need to conclude the free trade deal this year.
Hanoi (VNA) – PhilippineSecretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez on May 8 urged negotiators of theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) to speed up talks,reaffirming the need to conclude the free trade deal this year.
Opening the 18th round of RCEP negotiations, Lopez said the negotiators need to keep themomentum of the talks going and encouraged all parties to achieve a sustainableconclusion of the “high-quality and credible agreement” by the end of thisyear.
He said 17 rounds ofnegotiations have been held so far since RCEP talks were launched in 2012 andthey are moving forward despite the challenges.
At the end of the 30th ASEAN Summit last week, ASEAN leaders instructed their ministers andnegotiators to accelerate efforts building on the progress achieved thus far.
The leaders alsoreiterated the commitment of ASEAN member states to work together in acooperative manner in line with the guiding principles and objectives for negotiatingthe RCEP towards the swift conclusion of the RCEP negotiations.
The RCEP is alarge-scale free trade agreement, aiming to tie together ten ASEAN memberstates and their trade partners, including Australia, China, India, Japan, theRepublic of Korea, and New Zealand.
The pact will expandthe ASEAN market from 600 million to 3.5 billion people, representing abouthalf of the world’s population.
Its negotiationsstarted in November 2012 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and was initially scheduledfor conclusion by the end of 2015.-VNA
Senior officials from 16 Asia-Pacific countries met in Kobe, Japan on February 27 for the next round of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The Philippines, host of this year’s ASEAN meetings, vowed on March 6 to push for the substantial conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) designed to broaden and deepen cooperation between ASEAN and its six dialogue partners.
After the failure of the TPP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is expected to benefit Vietnam provided that the country and the domestic business community make good preparation.
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.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.
Univers said in a statement that the new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together digital intelligence and climate ambition to accelerate Sarawak's transition toward a low-carbon, tech-enabled economy.
The target is to be completely free from plastic waste within two years. This can only be achieved if all parties implement the initiative with strong discipline.
Indonesia is taking new steps to improve protections for fishery workers, amid concerns over low wages, harsh working conditions, and limited access to social welfare.
The 2025 ASEAN- the Republic of Korea (RoK) Connectivity Forum that opened in Jakarta on June 17 reaffirmed a shared commitment to shaping a connected, resilient future by advancing the ASEAN Connectivity Strategic Plan.
The desk will serve as a service centre providing market intelligence, business licensing guidance, facilitating business cooperation, identifying potential investment projects, and harmonising regulatory policies between the two parties.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim noted that the Asia-Pacific region accounted for half of global energy consumption and 60% of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024. Despite this, regional countries, including eight of ten ASEAN member states, remain committed to climate goals, including net-zero emissions and tripling global renewable capacity by 2030.
The new halal cooperation arrangement will streamline halal certification and product assurance processes, making it easier for New Zealand exporters to access the Indonesian market.
Illustrative image. (Photo: Asean.org)
