On 17 October 2024, the ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), in collaboration with Yangzhou Municipal People's Government, co-hosted the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) Roundtable Dialogue on RCEP. The ACC Secretary General Shi Zhongjun, Ambassador Dato' Norman Bin Muhamad of Malaysia to China, Ambassador Maubere Lorosae Da Silva Horta of Timor Leste to China, Secretary Wang Jinjian of CPC Yangzhou Municipal Committee and Deputy Secretary General Zushi Shuji of the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat (TCS) attended and addressed the Dialogue. Over 80 participants including diplomats, scholars and business delegates from the RCEP member states including Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) were present.
Shi Zhongjun stated that as the new engine to Asian economic integration, the full implementation of RCEP has unleashed great potential of regional market and played an important role in improving the policy environment, strengthening the resilience of supply and industrial chains, and enhancing regional connectivity. The APT countries should join hands to introduce operable measures to promote the implementation of RCEP, enhance effective interaction among governments, trade and investment promotion agencies and enterprises, and capitalize on the trend of technological progress so as to bring the regional integration to new heights.
Wang Jinjian introduced Yangzhou's engagement in RCEP cooperation and its competitive edges, and looked forward to further strengthening industrial exchanges, pursuing more mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, and deepening understanding and friendship with the related countries.
Ambassador Dato' Norman Bin Muhamad underlined that the full implementation of RCEP has promoted the reshaping of regional value chains, expecting Malaysia to attract more high value-added industries. Ambassador Maubere Lorosae Da Silva Horta stated that RCEP has not only promoted more frequent economic interaction among the regional parties, but also provided a quality platform for dialogue and exchanges. DSG Zushi Shuji spoke highly of the important role played by RCEP in promoting regional economic integration. He hoped that all member states could seize this opportunity to secure tangible benefits.
The invited diplomats, scholars and business delegates shared their views on the significance of RCEP to the economic development of their respective countries and the whole region at large. The Dialogue came to the consensus that the full implementation of RCEP stands out as a positive factor to business development for its signing members. All parties should stay committed to maintaining an open, inclusive and rules-based environment for global trade and investment, further open up markets and help enterprises make full use of the RCEP rules and regulations, so that the dividends of RCEP will truly benefit the long-term development of business communities and countries in the region.
During their stay in Yangzhou, delegates visited major enterprises in Yangzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, and held discussions with Yangzhou government agencies on how to bring into fully play Yangzhou's industrial advantages and strengthen economic cooperation and trade in the foreseeable future.
On the afternoon of 16 October, Secretary Wang Jinjian held a meeting with the leadership of international organizations, and the representatives of diplomats, representatives of the chambers of commerce and enterprises from RCEP countries, for an in-depth exchange of views on deepening cooperation in various fields and seeking win-win results.
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