June 23, 2020
On June 23, 2020, Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, attended the 10th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting via video conference.
At the meeting, since it was the first ministerial meeting since November 2019, participating ministers of the RCEP participating countries confirmed the subsequent progress in negotiations and held candid discussions on the way forward of the negotiations. Against the backdrop of the expansion of the novel coronavirus disease, this meeting was held via video conference. Nevertheless, the ministers engaged in active discussions.
At the meeting, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to sign the RCEP Agreement in 2020 as instructed by their leaders at the RCEP Summit Meeting in November 2019.
In addition, they reaffirmed that RCEP remains open for India and they agreed that the participating countries will continue to make efforts for India’s return to RCEP.
In accordance with these agreements among the ministers, Japan will continue to advance efforts for signing the RCEP Agreement by the end of 2020 and India’s return to RCEP.
Furthermore, the ministers issued a Joint Media Statement at the meeting (see the Appendix).
