The Ministerial Conference of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), participated by ministers of 16 parties such as ten ASEAN members, China, Australia, India, Japan, Korea and New Zealand, was held in the capital of Malaysia Kuala Lumpur on July 13. Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen led a delegation to attend the conference.
Ministers of all countries listened to the report on the negotiation process of the RCEP, profoundly exchanged views on the core issues in the negotiations and focused on discussing topics such as trade in goods, service trade and investment. The conference aimed at promoting the negotiation process according to the indication of leaders of all members and strove to end the practical negotiations by the end of 2015.
The RCEP negotiation was officially launched in November 2012. At present, 8 rounds of negotiations have been conducted. The goal of this negotiation is to reach a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial economic partnership agreement. The 9th round of negotiation will be held in Naypyidaw Burma at the beginning of August 2015.
