Negotiators of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have, for the past six years, weathered many rounds of negotiations and ministerial meetings but the trade deal still hasn’t come to fruition.
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) inched closer to completion last March when the ministers of all 16 countries met in Singapore for their fourth intersessional meeting. Next up on the almanac for leaders is a ministerial meeting which will be held in Tokyo on 1 July. Participating economies in RCEP include all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan, South Korea, China, India, New Zealand and Australia.
China’s foreign policy exerts a certain weight in the international community, and many have, in fact, likened the country to a superpower within the Asia region. However, like superpowers of the past and present, it cannot rely on just military and economic strength alone, but must also possess considerable “soft power”, manifested in what is referred to as Beijing’s “charm offensive”.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Great White North go way back – 41 years back to be exact.Last year, both ASEAN and Canada marked 40 years of dialogue relations and expressed confidence in a relationship that would hopefully continue to shape “a better, safer, and more prosperous world” for its peoples.Enduring benefits of ASEAN-Canada dialogueCanada first became an ASEAN dialogue partner in 1977.
The signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) took place last week, but questions now loom over the status of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The RCEP recently progressed to yet another ministerial meeting on 3rd March, after which it was reported to be closer to finalisation.
The Southeast Asian region and India have civilisational, cultural and linguistical linkages stretching back almost two thousand years. Evidences of Indian influence still permeates the traditions, languages and architectural designs found in many member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).In the 21st century, ties between India and this region have evolved in line with the current speed and vigour of globalisation.
India’s Republic Day is a big deal for a nation of 1.3 billion. It was on this day in 1950, when the constitution of India came into effect, marking the moment when the country became a full-fledged republic. The celebrations are nothing short of grand – with patriotic military parades embodying Indian pride and valour.However, this year’s edition is an even bigger deal than usual.
ASEAN GeopoliticsThis week, sanctions on North Korea were further tightened after Pyongyang’s refusal to halt their nuclear program – the latest being Thailand which has been called on by the United States to put more trade and diplomatic pressure on the hermit nation.The ASEAN Post also covered the prospect of achieving a “high quality” Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership in pursuit of a Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP).Outcome of RCEP negotiations so far.The question of U
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) encompasses 25 percent global GDP, 45 percent of the total population, 30 percent of global income and 30 percent global trade. Led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), it is one of the most useful strategic opportunities for the 16 countries – ASEAN-10, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand – to realise an economically open and liberal Asia Pacific.The potential that RCEP has is immense.
“These are interesting times to be alive,” Singaporean Foreign Minister, Vivien Balakrishnan told a room full of journalists, former ambassadors, diplomats and academics at the ISEAS – Yusuf Ishak Institute on Tuesday.That was the precursor to his lecture entitled “ASEAN: Next 50” on charting the next 50 years for the association as it celebrates its golden jubilee this year.
Regional integration will be one of the top priorities for Singapore as it assumes the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018.Singapore's ASEAN 2018 chairmanship aspirationsThe term “integration” is often thrown around in ASEAN summits and meetings – peppered into speeches made by ASEAN leaders. However, “integration” itself, while easily used to demonstrate an aspiration for a greater regional cohesiveness, is not an easy feat to achieve.
A blockbuster Pacific trade pact thrown into doubt by Donald Trump could be salvaged by suspending parts of the deal in order to get the 11 remaining nations to sign on, according to Malaysian Trade Minister Mustapa Mohamed.Speaking in Vietnam ahead of a meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders, including the US president, Mustapa said there was fresh momentum to save the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a deal that would have spanned 40 percent of the global economy.
