The fifth Hongqiao International Economic Forum, an important part of this year's China International Import Expo, will feature a high-level forum themed "RCEP and higher-level opening-up".

During the forum, government officials, heads of international organizations, business leaders and academics from around the world will be invited to deliver speeches and discuss the role that the RCEP has played in enhancing regional and global cooperation in industry chains and supply chains, as well as boosting economic recovery.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which took effect on Jan 1, 2022, is the largest free trade agreement in the world. It was signed by 15 countries – 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Participants at the forum will also work together to explore effective ways of promoting trade and investment cooperation, and achieve higher-level opening-up.

The forum will last about three hours.

Inaugurated in 2018, the Hongqiao forum has become a high-profile platform for representatives from the political, business, and academic sectors to exchange views.

By Zhao Luyang