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Joint Media Statement of the 8th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting
1. We, the Economic Ministers of the ASEAN Member States, Australia, China, Japan, Korea and New Zealand met on 27 August 2020 for the 8th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting. The Meeting was chaired by H.E. Tran Tuan Anh, Minister of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam, in collaboration with Mr. Vangelis Vitalis, Deputy Secretary, Trade and Economic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand, acting as the Facilitator for the non-ASEAN RCEP Participating Countries (RPCs).
2. The Ministers acknowledged that the unprecedented challenge brought about by the COVID-19 global pandemic had affected the trade and investment performance among the RPCs. They agreed that this challenge made it imperative for countries in the region, including those participating in the RCEP negotiations, to not only keep their markets open, particularly for essential goods and services, but also boost joint cooperation and collaboration in the fight against the COVID-19 global pandemic.
3. The Ministers recognised the critical importance of the RCEP Agreement in light of ongoing uncertainties. They shared the view that the signing of the RCEP Agreement would enhance business confidence, strengthen the regional economic architecture and maintain the stability of the regional and global industrial chains and supply chains, as well as demonstrate the region’s support for an open, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system. The Ministers also underscored the significant role that the RCEP Agreement could play in post-pandemic recovery efforts as well as in contributing to the growth and stability of the regional and global economy.
4. The Ministers were pleased with the significant progress made towards finalising the RCEP Agreement for signing at the 4th RCEP Summit in November 2020. They also reiterated that the RCEP remains open for India given that not only had it participated in the RCEP negotiations since they were launched in 2012 but also in recognition of the potential of India to contribute to the region’s prosperity.
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LIST OF RCEP MINISTERS
(a) Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Australia
(b) H.E. Dato Dr. Amin Liew Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei Darussalam;
(c) H.E. Pan Sorasak, Minister of Commerce, Cambodia;
(d) H.E. Zhong Shan, Minister of Commerce, People’s Republic of China;
(e) H.E. Agus Suparmanto, Minister of Trade, Republic of Indonesia;
(f) H.E. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan;
(g) H.E. Ms. Myung Hee Yoo, Minister for Trade, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Republic of Korea;
(h) H.E. Mrs. Khemmani Pholsena, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR;
(i) H.E. Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia;
(j) H.E. Thaung Tun, Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, Myanmar
(k) Mr. Vangelis Vitalis, Deputy Secretary, Trade and Economic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand (representing Hon. Damien O’Connor, Minister of State for Trade and Export Growth, New Zealand);
(l) H.E. Ramon M. Lopez, Secretary of Trade and Industry, Republic of the Philippines;
(m) H.E. Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry, Singapore;
(n) H.E. Dr. Sansern Samalapa, Vice Minister for Commerce, Thailand;
(o) H.E. Tran Tuan Anh, Minister of Industry and Trade, Viet Nam; and (p) H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
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（經濟部國際貿易局中譯，如有不一致以英文為準。）
RCEP 第 8 屆部長會議 2020 年 8 月 27 日
聯合聲明
1. 來自東協及澳、中、日、韓、紐的部長們於 2020 年 8 月 27 日舉行 RCEP 第 8 屆部長會議。會議由越南工業與貿 易部部長 Tran Tuan Anh 及非東協 RCEP 成員國(RPCs)協 調國紐西蘭外交暨貿易部副秘書長 Vangelis Vitalis 共同擔 任主席。
2. 部長們認識到，嚴重特殊傳染性肺炎(COVID-19)全球大流 行帶來前所未有的挑戰並已影響到非東協 RCEP 成員國間 的貿易和投資。部長們同意，此一挑戰迫切需要包含 RCEP 成員國在內的區域各國確保市場開放，特別是對必要物資 和服務保持開放，以及加強合作與協調，共同對抗 COVID- 19 疫情蔓延。
3. 鑒於當前面臨的不確定性，部長們瞭解 RCEP 協定具有顯 著重要性。部長們認為，RCEP 的簽署將提振商業信心、
加強區域經濟結構，維持區域和全球產業鏈與供應鏈穩定，
展現區域對開放、包容、以規則為基礎的多邊貿易體制的 支持。部長們也強調，RCEP 將對推動後疫情經濟復甦、
維持區域和全球經濟發展穩定發揮重要作用。
4. 部長們對迄今推動 RCEP 朝向於 2020 年 11 月第 4 次 RCEP 領袖峰會簽署所取得的重大進展感到滿意。印度自 2012 年 RCEP 啟動談判以來，一直是重要的參與國。部長們認同 印度參與 RCEP 將為區域繁榮帶來貢獻，因此部長們重申 RCEP 仍對印度保持開放。
