RCEP deal 'to be sealed' this year

Ministry of Commerce officials expect to conclude negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership this year, as well as restart free trade agreement talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council, and finalize a feasibility study into a trade arrangement with Israel.

Final discussions on a free trade agreement between China, South Korea and Japan, and proposed FTAs with Sri Lanka and the Maldives and other countries along the Belt and Road Initiative, will also be accelerated, said ministry spokesman Shen Danyang on Wednesday.

The Belt and Road includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, and covers about 4.4 billion people in more than 60 countries and regions.