インドは「重要な参加国」　年内署名の目標再確認―ＲＣＥＰ閣僚会合

　日中韓と東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）加盟国などは２３日、東アジア地域包括的経済連携（ＲＣＥＰ）閣僚会合をテレビ会議形式で開いた。交渉離脱の姿勢を示すインドは参加しなかったが、各国閣僚が会合後に発表した共同声明は、インドについて「交渉の重要な参加国」と明記。協議復帰に向けて働き掛けを続ける方針で一致した。（2020/06/23-19:05）

Ministers from Japan and other countries discussing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership reconfirmed in a joint statement Tuesday that India is "an important participant" in negotiations over the envisaged free trade agreement.
   The statement was released after a videoconference among the ministers the same day. At the talks, the ministers from 15 countries--Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations--agreed to continue their efforts to make India return to the RCEP negotiating table. India, which has signaled its withdrawal from the proposed deal, did not join the ministerial talks.
   "India has been an important participant in the RCEP negotiations since the launch in 2012," the ministers said in the statement, adding: "We believe that India's participation in the RCEP would contribute to the advancement and prosperity of the region. We therefore wish to emphasize that the RCEP remains open for India."
   The 15 countries, excluding India, reached a broad agreement over the main areas covered by the RCEP at a summit last November. India threatened to pull out of the negotiation framework due to concern over massive inflows of goods from China after tariff cuts under the trade deal.
   The ministers at the videoconference reaffirmed the goal of concluding the trade agreement within this year among the 16 countries including India. The ministerial statement also said that the importance of the RCEP is growing in light of the global trend of protectionism amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.