Together, three neighbors can better promote free trade in Asia

THE 15TH ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS AMONG CHINA, Japan and the Republic of Korea on a free trade agreement was held in Tokyo last week. Zhong Sheng, a columnist for People's Daily, comments:

The three countries had in-depth exchanges of opinions on trade in goods, trade in services, investment, rules and other issues and, on the basis of a consensus achieved on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, agreed to further improve the level of trade and investment liberalization and forge a RCEP-plus free trade agreement.

The joint efforts of the three countries to advance the construction of a free trade agreement show their common determination to uphold the multilateral trading system and oppose unilateralism and protectionism.