Beijing, Nov 16, Nov. 16 -- After eight years of negotiations, 15 Asia-Pacific countries on Sunday signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's biggest trade pact, a move considered a massive coup for regional economic integration, multilateralism and free trade.

"This is not only a monumental achievement in East Asian regional cooperation, but more important, a victory of multilateralism and free trade," said Chinese Premier Li Keqiang at the fourth RCEP Summit held via video link.

Leaders from the 15 nations, including 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Australia and New Zealand, witnessed the signing of the pact after t...