RCEP signals free trade benefits to be expanded: AIIB VP

In this file photo, Joachim von Amsberg, vice-president of policy and strategy at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, speaks at the Summer Davos Forum in Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning province, on July 1, 2019. - CHINADAILY.COM.C

NANNING (Xinhua): The landmark Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) shows signs of hope that the benefits of free trade will be expanded, and further regional integration creates additional opportunities, particularly for the less advanced economies in Asia, Joachim von Amsberg, vice-president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), has said.

"We see the RCEP as a very important next step to broaden the group of countries that facilitate, simplify and reduce the cost of trade between them," Amsberg told Xinhua Saturday on the sidelines of the ongoing 17th China-Asean Expo, held on Nov 27-30 in Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.