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.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
An overview of the meeting (Source: VNA) 
