Japan, Australia reaffirm goal for RCEP deal
The Japan News - 10 January 2020
Japan, Australia reaffirm goal for RCEP deal
Japan and Australia on Friday reaffirmed their goal of concluding the envisioned Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership free trade deal among 16 nations including India by the end of the year.
RCEP means a lot from a geopolitical perspective, Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Hiroshi Kajiyama told a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart, Simon Birmingham, after their meeting in Melbourne.
Birmingham said that the door is wide open for India’s participation. New Delhi has signaled its withdrawal from the 16-country RCEP talks.
Kajiyama and Birmingham also signed a joint statement calling for increased cooperation between Japan and Australia on hydrogen and fuel cells.
The two countries have been supporting a pilot project that produces liquefied hydrogen gas out of Australian brown coal and transports it to Japan.
The countries have also signed a memorandum on cooperation in the development of carbon recycling technology.Speech
