Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Director General for Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Policy Ahn Chang-yong is attending the seventh Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Joint Committee meeting as Korea’s Chief Delegate through July 15–17 in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), this year’s ASEAN Chair.

 

Partner countries hold the RCEP Joint Committee on a quarterly basis to review and discuss various matters concerning the smooth implementation and management of the RCEP Agreement, as well as economic and technological cooperation issues. This year’s Joint Committee Co-Chairs are Indonesia and China, each representing ASEAN and non-ASEAN partner countries.

 

The seventh RCEP Joint Committee meeting will proceed with the participation of the 15 partner countries’ Chief Delegates and representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat and the Lao PDR’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce.

 

By the end of this year, partner countries attending this Joint Committee meeting aim to install a support unit in the form of a secretariat for implementing the RCEP, which entered into force in 2022. Other agenda items include RCEP accession procedures and the outcomes of the Joint Committee on RCEP Implementation.

 

Meanwhile, Director General Ahn plans to visit the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce on the occasion of his visit to discuss measures for economic cooperation and launching of joint seminars for RCEP promotion.