共促RCEP从全球“最大”走向水平“更高”

Core Viewpoint - The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is emerging as a new engine for economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region, promoting regional economic integration amid increasing global uncertainties and trade order instabilities [1][2]. Group 1: Economic Growth and Trade Development - RCEP has significantly boosted intra-regional trade, with over 45% of exports and nearly 54% of imports within the region directed towards member markets, marking increases of approximately 9 percentage points and 12.1 percentage points since 2020, respectively [2]. - The GDP of RCEP members has grown at an average annual rate of 3.5% from 2021 to 2023, surpassing global growth by 0.5 percentage points, and is projected to contribute over 32% to global economic growth from 2023 to 2029, amounting to an increase of $10.9 trillion [2]. Group 2: Regional Integration and Supply Chain - The deep integration of supply chains within the RCEP region is crucial for economic stability, with the share of intermediate goods trade rising from 65.0% to 68.3% of total trade from 2021 to 2024 [3]. - RCEP aims to enhance the zero-tariff coverage rate, which is currently around 70% for China-ASEAN trade, compared to 97% under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement [3]. Group 3: Future Developments and Expansion - The conditions for establishing a high-level free trade area are maturing, with potential breakthroughs in bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, such as the anticipated signing of the upgraded China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 [4][5]. - RCEP is also considering expansion, with applications from Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, and Chile, which could enhance regional trade and financial development [5][6]. Group 4: China's Role in RCEP - China, as the largest market in the RCEP region, is expected to play a pivotal role in driving the unified market's formation, with significant growth potential in service industries and urbanization [8][9]. - In 2023, China accounted for 20.1% of RCEP's total exports of consumer goods, surpassing the U.S. by 35.6%, highlighting the importance of tariff concessions and market access for RCEP members [9].