The RCEP leaders are in Vientiane this week to attend other meetings related to the annual Asean summit. The RCEP countries are the 10 Asean member states plus Japan, China, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand. Leaders had said in a joint statement in Kuala Lumpur last year that they "look forward to the conclusion of the RCEP negotiations in 2016." There is also a trade negotiating committee. Some RCEP member countries -- Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei -- are already part of the TPP.

Source: Bangkok Post September 07, 2016 08:15 UTC