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The Hindu
The Hindu
National
Suhasini Haidar

Sri Lanka, Bangladesh mull over joining RCEP bloc

RCEP India Bangladesh Sri Lanka Lanka AK Abdul Momen ASEAN Japan Ranil Wickremesinghe Commerce Ministry

Four years after India walked out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement, neighbours Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are now considering their chances of membership in the 15-nation trading bloc.

Sri Lanka has already applied to join the RCEP, and President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who begins a visit to Beijing for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum on Sunday, is expected to seek support for his country’s candidacy in meetings with leaders there. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh government — whose Commerce Ministry has recommended joining RCEP — is expected to take a final decision only after elections are held there in January 2024, its Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen said. 

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