It has become a common refrain among some commentators that the recently concluded Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership -- accounting for about a third of the world's population and trade -- was "China-initiated" or is "China-led." Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy organised an online forum on Vietnam-Italy economic cooperation to beef up bilateral economic relations on November 26.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked local textile-garment and footwear enterprises to take full advantage of free trade agreements (FTAs) during a working session with the sectors’ representatives in Hanoi on November 23.

India is unlikely to join the world’s largest free trade bloc anytime soon as New Delhi remains more inclined toward bilateral agreements, an economist told CNBC.

Several Japanese investors have stated that they are keen to select Vietnam as their primary investment destination as the world moves past the impact of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), with the wave of Japanese investment into the country set to continue.

Large RCEP economies such as China and Japan will, of course, be able to play some dominant roles within the RCEP.

On the heels of signing the world’s biggest free trade deal, President Xi Jinping’s announcement that China “will actively consider” joining a formerly American-backed accord has sent a ripple of intrigue across the Pacific Rim.

The Japanese government will seek to expand the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the free trade agreement that takes over from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) of former US President Barack Obama.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the garment-textile and footwear sectors to promote the building of Vietnamese brands and supply chain linkages, and develop supporting industries during a working session with the sectors’ representatives in Hanoi on November 23.

With the results in the first 10 months and positive signs at present, export-import turnover in 2020 can set a new record of 540 billion USD. This is a shining point amid the impact of COVID-19 across the world's economies.