KUALA LUMPUR: The fifth Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit emphasised the critical need for ambitious World Trade Organisation reform to better serve all member interests.
A joint leaders’ statement reaffirmed the RCEP’s commitment to WTO rules as the foundation of an open and rules-based multilateral trading system.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stressed that RCEP leaders convened at a pivotal moment requiring open and forward-looking dialogue.
“We must ensure that we lay the foundation for enduring peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific,” he stated while chairing the summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
The summit formed a key part of the second day of the 47th ASEAN Summit under Malaysia’s 2025 chairmanship theme of inclusivity and sustainability.
RCEP leaders acknowledged that regional integration within the multilateral trading system is fundamental to economic stability and long-term prosperity.
They recognised RCEP’s pivotal role in advancing regional economic integration and cooperation amid global trade uncertainties.
The leaders reiterated their firm commitment to enhancing full and effective implementation of the RCEP Agreement to achieve the region’s trade and growth potential.
They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining open markets and removing unnecessary trade barriers while strengthening trade facilitation.
Ministers and officials received instructions to intensify preparation for the general review of the RCEP Agreement scheduled for 2027.
This fifth RCEP Summit marked the first physical gathering of leaders since the agreement’s signing in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. – Bernama
