"As the saying goes, proof of the pudding is in the eating...It's no exaggeration that RCEP represents an important step forward toward an ideal framework of global trade and investment rules," Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific and former minister of transport of Malaysia, emphasized at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19.

"We must continue to be vigilant against the impact of geopolitical factors on the implementation of the RCEP, which will make the regional cooperation advance toward a more inclusive, modern and mutually beneficial direction," said Shi Zhongjun, secretary general of ASEAN-China Centre, in his opening address at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19.

"Some countries frequently wield the big stick of 'anti-dumping' and 'anti-subsidy', using narratives such as 'de-risking' and 'overcapacity' that are illogical and contrary to market rules," said Wu Hailong, president of China Public Diplomacy Association at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19.

He added that such actions are extremely destructive to the facilitation of regional trade and investment, the integration of regional economies, and the establishment of a regional large market.
By Ge Xinge and Gong Yueqi

"Durian now is a very important issue, especially in Thailand," said Chaiwat Messanthan, director of the Institute of East Asian Studies at Thammasat University in Thailand, at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19. He stated that the RCEP standard made Thai durian more acceptable and in demand so that it could be exported to more countries. RCEP is an extremely important channel in creating export opportunities for Thailand and is very beneficial to Thailand and Thai entrepreneurs.

"(RCEP) boosts (the) Cambodian dream (and) comes at the right time," said Rynith Taing, deputy editor-in-chief, Khmer Times, Cambodia, at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19. He stated that Cambodia exported $8.17 billion worth of goods to RCEP countries in 2023, an increase of 28.8 percent compared to $6.34 billion in 2022.

Against the backdrop of declining global openness, rising trade costs and bottlenecks of supply chains in the world, the RCEP could promote the free flow of production factors in a wider scope, realize the optimal allocation of production factors, promote the specialized division of labor and spur more new quality productive forces and innovations, which will help regional cooperation advance toward a more inclusive, modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial direction.

Cooperation between think tanks and the media within the framework of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership is crucial for promoting mutual understanding, knowledge sharing and informed decision-making, according to experts at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum held on Sunday in Hainan province.

"The relationship between think tanks and the media can be likened to a symbiotic partnership, where the media serves as a platform for amplifying the research and analysis produced by think tanks, while the think tanks benefit from the media's ability to reach a wider audience and facilitate meaningful dialogue," said Duan Gang, vice-president of the Yunnan Education Association for International Exchange and former vice-president of Yunnan Minzu University.

Rommel Banlaoi, chairman of the advisory board at the China Studies Center of the School of International Relations at New Era University in the Philippines, said that while think tanks and media participate in international conferences and regional forums to address various issues and perspectives on the RCEP, there remains a critical need to enhance systematic collaboration and to strengthen their partnership to maximize their impact.

"China is the country most affected by the United States' economic bullying behavior," said Yu Hongjun, former vice-minister of International Department of the CPC Central Committee, at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19. In spite of that, China's economic system is comprehensive, its manufacturing industry is vast, its import and export momentum is strong, and its market attractiveness is unparalleled, Yu said.

"The release of the growth potential of the RCEP regional market will bring significant benefits to the world economy," said Chi Fulin, president of the China Institute for Reform and Development, in his opening address at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19.

Global experts have called for further moves to enhance the effective implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade, the world's largest free trade pact, which will offer increasing opportunities for global stakeholders.

The remarks were made at seminars discussing improving the utilization rate of the RCEP's rules and advancing regional economic integration, which were held on Sunday on the sidelines of the RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum in Hainan province.

Members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership can further improve the alignment of operational guidelines across key sectors such as competition policy and trade in services to elevate mutual openness, said trade experts and foreign scholars on Sunday.

Speaking at a forum in Haikou, capital of Hainan province, they said that in the context of the uncertain global geopolitical landscape and trade protectionism, these measures are practical to tackle the weaponization of tariffs and support the growth of a healthy supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region.

"Data has now become a crucial element in reshaping the global digital industry's competitiveness," said Xue Lan, dean of the Schwarzman College of Tsinghua University, at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19. He said cross-border data drives significant economic value by permeating new formats and models of digital trade, and the RCEP also provides crucial new opportunities for businesses in digital trade.

"Unilateralism and protectionism are the biggest obstacles and nemeses of regional integration," said Wu Hailong, president of China Public Diplomacy Association at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19.

He stated that some people used unilateralism and protectionism to suppress and restrain industries and products of countries that are more competitive than them. RCEP countries should speak out boldly, and dare to say "no" from the perspective of safeguarding the interests of this region.

"Even in zero-sum games, there are winners and losers. But now some major powers are playing a negative-sum game," said Zhang Yuyan, Director of Institute of World Economics and Politics under the CASS at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19.

He stated that when considering economic growth, in the face of today's political and economic reality, we must pay attention to the harm and constraints that the negative-sum game poses to growth.

"RCEP must ensure no one is left behind, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises," emphasized ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in his opening address at the 2024 RCEP Media & Think Tank Forum on May 19.

The third phase of the 135th China Import and Export Fair — widely known as the Canton Fair — is scheduled to open on Wednesday in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, further building upon the significant increase of overseas buyers in the last two phases.

One of China's biggest trade events, the fair continued to show its "super flow" effects within the global business community, with visits of more than 190,000 overseas buyers in its first two phases — a year-on-year increase of 22.1 percent since its last session in October, the organizer said.

Domestic brands with unique features and high-quality attributes have been accelerating their pace of going global, and the trend has shifted from low-priced competition to branding development, and increasing applications of digital technologies, industry experts said.

Hangzhou, Zhejiang province-based Huaxizi — or Florasis in English — a Chinese beauty brand with cultural attributes and aesthetic qualities, launched a series of products at a Cosme store, a Japanese cosmetics information and community portal, in Osaka earlier this year.

China's complete manufacturing clusters, strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region and numerous free trade agreements with various countries will remain beneficial for multinational corporations aiming to capitalize on growth opportunities, said business executives and experts.

They added that China, the biggest trading partner for more than 120 countries and regions, is not only the world's major manufacturing powerhouse, but has also become a global hub for innovation, particularly in industrial technology, digital services and green energy.