RCEP trade deal signing a milestone for Philippines: official

A screen grab taken from Vietnam Host Broadcaster's November 15, 2020 live video shows Philippines Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin (left) standing next to the Philippines' Secretary of Trade and Industry Ramon Lopez as he holds up the agreement during the signing ceremony for the RCEP trade pact at the Asean summit that is being held online in Hanoi.- AFP

MANILA (Xinhua): The Philippines on Sunday (Nov 15) hailed the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, saying the conclusion of the mega trade deal among 15 Asia-Pacific countries is a "milestone" for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and will broaden the economic engagements of the Philippines.

The RCEP agreement, which was signed Sunday among its 15 participating countries,"is not only a milestone for Asean but a welcome development for the Philippines," Philippine Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a statement.