Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in the system of multilateral economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region
The paper explores the role of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in the system of multilateral economic cooperation in Asia-Pacific. It discusses the basic features of the initiative in terms of its functionality and implementation mechanisms. The study identifies the key factors (economic, technical and political) that hinder the advancement of RCEP. Besides, it summarizes recent rounds of negotiations and meetings in multilateral format. In particular, it is referred to the 18th and 19th rounds of negotiations as well as the 3rd RCEP Intersessional Ministerial Meeting and the 5th RCEP Ministerial Meeting held in September 2017 in the Philippines.