Ministers from 16 East Asian countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership made progress at a meeting in Singapore Saturday but many gaps remain.
"There is still a lot to do but it's possible to finish by this year," said a high-ranking official from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) who took part in the one-day RCEP meeting.
Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko expressed Japan's intention to support ASEAN's policy of sealing an RCEP deal this year.