by Abu Hanifah
JAKARTA, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Asia-Pacific countries are gathering in Indonesia for the 16th round of Regional Comprehensive Economy Partnership (RCEP) negotiation with eagerness shifting to the regional free-trade pact as the U.S. plans exit from Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Launched in November 2012, the RCEP talks involve 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and six dialogue partners-China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India - with an aim to facilitate expansion of regional trade and investment.
Indonesian Trade Minister Engartiasto Lukita said that the negotiation process among TPP members now becomes crucial following the uncertain fate of TPP and recent development in global trade after Britain's exit from the European Union.
"With such a condition, the RCEP becomes a hope. Huge anxieties on major changing in global trade regime have been circulated among several countries at present. It made them shift their aspirations to RCEP," the minister said on the sidelines of RCEP negotiation opening ceremony on Tuesday.
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