Bangkok(VNA) – The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership(RCEP) is set to be signed on November 14 via hologram, according to DirectorGeneral of the Trade Negotiations Department Auramon Supthaweethum.
Auramon was quoted by local mediaas saying that 15 RCEP members have insisted on signing the pact at theupcoming summit despite the prolonged pandemic.
She said Vietnam as host countryorganised the unconventional approach. There will be a referendum or officialsigning by each country after the hologram.
The official added that the TradeNegotiations Department will publish the deal’s details on its website in bothThai and English. The deal is scheduled to be submitted to the Thai legislaturefor approval next year.
Auromon said she hopes the RCEPwill take effect in 2021, as member countries want to stimulate economic growthamidst the serious impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic through this deal, thelargest of its kind in the world.
The RCEP is a proposedFTA between the 10 member states of ASEAN and six dialogue partners, namelyChina, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand.Negotiations on the RCEP started in late 2012 at the 21st ASEAN Summit in PhnomPenh.
In last-minute talkson Nov 4 last year, with Thailand as ASEAN Chair, India pulled the plug onjoining the RCEP over unresolved issues, especially those concerningagricultural tariffs.
So far,15 participating countries have concluded text-based negotiations for all 20chapters of the deal and market access issues./.
