By Lee Kah Whye
Singapore, June 24 -- ailand, the current chair of ASEAN, has urged participating countries to rapidly conclude negotiations on an agreement to the Regional Economic Comprehensive Partnership (RCEP).
At a business forum in Bangkok ahead of the ASEAN Summit over the June 22nd weekend, Mr Prayut Chan-O-Cha, former junta leader and the new Prime Minister of Thailand said: "Thailand is trying to expedite the conclusion of the RCEP negotiations this year." He added that this is the agreed intention of all the leaders.
At the same meeting, Philippines' Trade Secretary Mr Ramon Lopez expressed his belief that the negotiations have reached a point whereby the different negotiating parties can be persuaded to be more realistic and...