On the morning of November 22 local time, Premier Li Keqiang attended in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre the issue ceremony of the Joint Statement on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)Negotiations. Leaders from the 10 ASEAN countries, and the Republic of Korea (ROK), Japan, Australia, New Zealand as well as India together attended the ceremony. Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia read out the statement.

The statement pointed out that leaders of relevant countries welcome substantial progress from the RCEP negotiations. The RCEP is not only of important significance in elevating the level of people's livelihood and promoting economic development in the region, but also an important path to regional economic integration, which is conducive to advancing the equitable development of economy and strengthening the economic connection among all countries. Leaders request the negotiation teams to speed up the work and strive to finish the negotiation in 2016.

The RCEP negotiation, with an aim to establish a modern, comprehensive, high-quality and mutually beneficial free trade agreement, was officially launched in May, 2013. Relevant countries have held 10 rounds of negotiations and 4 Economic and Trade Ministers' Meetings. Member states of the RCEP account for 50 percent of world population, and their GDP, trade volume and foreign investment attraction account for nearly 1/3 of that of the world. It is the largest free trade agreement negotiation in Asia, and the free trade area negotiation covering the most member states and with the greatest influence China has joined.