RCEP talks likely to conclude this year, official says

China and its partners participating in the negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement are expected to conclude the talks within this year, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Assistant Minister of Commerce Li Chenggang said since the 27th round of RCEP talks held in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital of Henan province, has made notable progress in many aspects between July 22 and 31, it will be conductive for the upcoming RCEP ministerial meeting to gain more consensus in Beijing from Friday to Saturday,

More than 700 representatives from 16 countries including member economies of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, Australia and India attended the 27th round of RCEP talks and they reaffirmed the goals reached during the second RCEP leaders' meeting in Singapore last November.