Economic ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said in Kuala Lumpur yesterday that expanding the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) membership would further strengthen and diversify its economic linkages with external partners.

They are meeting there for the 57th ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Meeting.

In a joint statement, they said they noted interests from Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Chile and Bangladesh to accede to RCEP, and the meeting encouraged officials to expedite discussions to commence the accession process as soon as possible.

"The meeting welcomed the full operationalisation of the RCEP Support Unit and its efforts in providing support to the RCEP Joint Committee and its subsidiary bodies," the statement said. 

RCEP covers 10 member states of ASEAN and its five free trade agreement partners—China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The AEM and related meetings will end on September 26.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)