Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations speaks via video at the RCEP Economic and Trade Cooperation Business Summit in Nanning, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Sept 10, 2021. (FENG WENJIA / FOR CHINA DAILY)
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the critical role international trade plays in the region’s economic growth, said Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at a summit on Friday.
Signatory countries need to ensure the timely entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement to reap the benefits, said Lim Jock Hoi, secretary-general of ASEAN
Speaking via video at the RCEP Economic and Trade Cooperation Business Summit held in Nanning, South China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, Lim said signatory countries need to ensure the timely entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement to reap the benefits.
“China has set an example as one of the first signatories that ratified the RCEP agreement. And I hope that other signatories would soon follow suit,” he said.
Co-hosted by the ASEAN Secretariat and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the summit was held under the theme Sharing New Opportunity, Embracing New Development, Creating New Future. Over 300 representatives from governments, businesses, and academics attended the summit.
ALSO READ: RCEP to accelerate the recovery of global economy
The Nanning Initiative on Jointly Facilitating the Early Entry into Force of RCEP was also announced at the summit by over 30 business associations from regional countries.
Contact the writers at kelly@chinadailyapac.com