Airlangga Pushes for Stronger RCEP Secretariat and ASEAN Centrality at Kuala Lumpur Summit
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KUALA LUMPUR, Investortrust.id — Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto has called for strengthening the institutional framework and central role of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or RCEP, in sustaining regional economic stability and growth.
Speaking on Monday, Oct 27, 2025, at the Fifth RCEP Leaders’ Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Airlangga, representing President Prabowo Subianto, said RCEP plays a strategic role as a trade agreement that covers 28.6% of the world’s population and 28% of global GDP. Indonesia currently serves as the Country Coordinator within the partnership.
RCEP comprises 15 member countries — the ten ASEAN nations plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. Four other economies, namely Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Chile, have submitted applications to join.
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This year’s RCEP Leaders’ Meeting focused on two key agendas: steering implementation amid global economic uncertainty and strengthening fair, open trade cooperation. Leaders also endorsed a Joint Leaders’ Statement reaffirming commitment to uphold a rules-based international trading system under the World Trade Organization.
“Establishing the RCEP Secretariat is a critical step to improve coordination, transparency, and the long-term relevance of our cooperation. Indonesia is ready to host the Secretariat in Jakarta,” Airlangga said in his intervention during the summit.
The RCEP leaders subsequently adopted the official Leaders’ Statement reiterating their shared commitment to reinforce multilateral trade systems, maintain ASEAN centrality, and keep the RCEP market open and rules-based.
Members agreed to reduce trade barriers, strengthen investment facilitation, and advance domestic reforms to make regional economic growth more resilient. They also committed to fully implement the RCEP Agreement and prepare for the General Review on RCEP scheduled to begin in 2027.
These steps are expected to further cement RCEP’s position as the world’s largest economic bloc and a driving force of Asia-Pacific integration.