Countries involved in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have begun a legal review aimed at signing the trade pact this year in Vietnam, said Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Vietnam has approved Japan’s proposal to open a consular general in the central city of Da Nang, the biggest city in Central Vietnam, after a meeting between the countries’ top diplomats this week.

Within the framework of the 35th ASEAN Summit and related Summits, leaders of ASEAN member countries and its partners agreed to conclude the negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2020.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the 3rd RCEP Summit and met with Japanese PM Abe Shinzo on November 4, wrapping up his activities at the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

Leaders of the Southeast Asian countries met for a second day on November 3 within the framework of the 35th ASEAN Summit, hoping for a breakthrough in the negotiations of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 8th RCEP Intersessional Ministerial Meeting which took place in Beijing, China, on August 3.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gave an interview to The Nation newspaper of Thailand while attending the 34th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok on June 22 and 23.

Vietnam will have to compete with other RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) countries because its most advantageous products are similar to key export product items of the countries.

VietNamNet Bridge – Preferential tariffs may no longer be a competitive advantage for Vietnamese goods over those from China in the Japanese and South Korean markets after the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement is signed.

VietNamNet Bridge – Two protocols facilitating investment and trade among ASEAN member countries were signed on Friday, March 8, at the 19th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting in the capital city.