Japan is not considering signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership without India, according to the country’s deputy minister for economy, trade and industry Hideki Makihara.

“All we are thinking of is negotiations including India...Japan will continue to try to persuade India to join,” the top Japanese negotiator told Bloomberg in an interview.

“It is meaningful from the economic, political and potentially the national security point of view,” Makihara said of the inclusion of India in the multi-nation pact.

Japanese and Indian foreign and defence ministers will hold their first joint meeting in a so-called ‘two plus two’ format this weekend. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is also expected to visit New Delhi in the coming weeks.

Trade minister Hiroshi Kajiyama will accompany Abe on next month’s trip to India, Makihara said.

India this month announced its withdrawal from the RCEP, citing the deal’s potential impact on the livelihoods of its most vulnerable citizens. China said the 15 remaining countries decided to move forward first and India was welcome to join RCEP whenever it wants.

The other countries taking part in the RCEP talks are Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

Published On : 29-11-2019

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