Ministers from 16 Asia-Pacific countries met in Siem Reap, Cambodia on March 2 to negotiate the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in the context of forecasts that participating sides are yet to narrow gaps related to tax and other matters.
Hanoi (VNA) – Ministers from 16 Asia-Pacific countries met in SiemReap, Cambodia on March 2 to negotiate the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) in the context of forecasts that participating sides are yet to narrowgaps related to tax and other matters.
Representatives from the 10 ASEAN countries and their six partners (Australia,China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand) will discuss a freetrade agreement for half of the world population which account for 30 percentof global GDP and trade.
At a meeting in late 2018, those countries’ representatives went home withoutreaching any deal. India showed its caution about tax removal as it worriedthat prices of goods imported from China will sharply increase.
The Cambodia media said at the Siem Reap meeting, the Japanese delegation hopedthe negotiations will reach progress in financial service and other fields thatsee few differences in order to pave the way for the conclusion of negotiationsfor this free trade agreement.
RCEP comprises the 10 ASEAN member countries and six nations which ASEAN hassigned free trade agreements with including Australia, China, India, Japan, theRepublic of Korea and New Zealand. It was ever expected to be signed before2015, towards the goal of forming the East Asia Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA)and kick-starting the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia(CEPEA).-VNA
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) needs to be in the form of a cooperation framework that fosters trade and investment, rendering common prosperity for the region.
The prolonging of negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) may lead to a risk of losing the deal’s credibility, warned Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a meeting of leaders of 16 countries engaging in the RCEP in Singapore on November 14.
Member countries of ASEAN need to give priority to promoting ASEAN Economic Community 2025 (AEC2025) and concluding Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations to deal with economic headwinds in 2019, according to a recent article on the website //www.eurasiareview.com.
Vietnam has experienced a year of socio-economic achievements. For example, economic growth continues at a high level; the macroeconomic environment remains stable; inflation is under control; the trade surplus is at record levels; and the State budget deficit is stable.
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.
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.
An overview of the meeting (Source: VNA) 
