China, ASEAN ‘need fast RCEP deal’
ASEAN’s trade relationship with China has reached a crucial turning point with the latest 2015 figures showing a 3-per-cent contraction, making it necessary to quickly conclude the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, according to a top Chinese think-tank. Zhang Yuyan, director of the Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said after his presentation entitled “China’s Economy in Global Context” at Siam Commercial Bank’s headquarters on August 22 that it was now imperative for China and ASEAN member countries to speed up the RCEP negotiations in order to upgrade economic relations to the next level. The RCEP covers investment and other aspects of economic relations, in addition to the current trade in goods.
