(VOVworld) – The first round of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, (RCEP), will begin early next month.

Leaders of ASEAN and 6 partner countries at a ceremony to launch RCEP negotiations to improve economic integration between the bloc and its partners (Photo: vietnamplus)

According to a statement of the just concluded ASEAN summit in Brunei, negotiators from 16 countries will meet in Brunei for five days from May 9^th to discuss issues relating to goods, services, and investment. RCEP talks involve in 10 ASEAN members and the six major partners with which ASEAN countries have existing bilateral Free Trade Agreements – China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and New Zealand. ASEAN officials said that RCEP negotiations were launched by the East Asian countries at the 21^st ASEAN summit in Cambodia in late 2012.The model is hoped to integrate the existing FTAs for maximizing the region's benefits.