Understanding International Relations

​RCEP

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations were launched by Leaders from ASEAN and ASEAN's free trade agreement (FTA) partners in the margins of the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 20 November 2012.

The RCEP is an ASEAN-centered proposal for a regional free trade area, which would initially include the ten ASEAN member states and those countries which have existing FTAs with ASEAN – Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and New Zealand.

RCEP stands for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
It is a proposed free trade agreement between countries of ASEAN(10 countries) and 6 other countries with

which ASEAN has existing FTAs (including In

10 ASEAN nations are :

1. Brunei,
2. Burma (Myanmar),
3. Cambodia,
4. Indonesia,
5. Laos,
6. Malaysia,
7. Philippines,
8. Singapore,
9. Thailand,
10. Vietnam

6 Other Nations are :

1. Australia,
2. China,
3. India,
4. Japan,
5. South Korea and
6. New Zealand

RCEP negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia
RCEP is viewed as an alternative to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, which includes the United

States but excludes China

RCEP potentially includes more than 3 billion people or 45% of the world’s population, and a combined GDP of about $21.3 trillion, accounting for about 40 percent of world trade
The combined GDP of potential of RCEP members surpassed the combined GDP of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members in 2007.

TPP
SIGNED ON 04/FEB/2016 IN AUCKLAND.

• TPP is a Trade Agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries
• It was signed on 4 February 2016 in Auckland, New Zealand
• It has not entered into force

Goals:
- promote economic growth;
- support the creation and retention of jobs;
- enhance innovation, productivity and competitiveness;
- raise living standards;
- reduce poverty in our countries;
- promote transparency, good governance,
- enhanced labor and environmental protections

The agreement covers 40% of the world’s economy
India is not a part of this.

It involves 12 countries: the US, Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru.

The pact aims to deepen economic ties between these nations, slashing tariffs and fostering trade to boost growth.

The agreement could create a new single market like that of the EU. It began with the P4 trade agreement between just four nations - Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore - that came into effect 10 years ago.

The 12 countries have a collective population of about 800 million - almost double that of the European Union's single market. The 12-nation would-be bloc is already responsible for 40% of world trade.

MERCOSUR-25TH YEAR
Mercosur was established in 1991 by the Treaty of Asunción, which was later amended and updated by the 1994 Treaty of OuroPreto.

On July 7th of 2015, the heads of Mercosur having decided to accept Bolivia's request to become a full member country, Bolivian president Evo Morales signed the Brasilia protocol. This acted Bolivia's full membership to the Mercosur.

EAST ASIA SUMMIT
Established in 2005.

The membership of EAS consists of ten ASEAN Member States (i.e. Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam), Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation and the USA.

There are six priority areas of regional cooperation within the framework of the EAS. These are – Environment and Energy, Education, Finance, Global Health Issues and Pandemic Diseases, Natural Disaster Management, and ASEAN Connectivity.

India hosted EAS Conference on Maritime Security and Cooperation on 9-10 November 2015 in New Delhi which called for a more cooperative and integrated future for the region through overall development of the ocean-based blue economy.

At the 10th EAS held on 22 November 2015,in KaulaLampur, the Leaders adopted the following Statements / Declarations: i) Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Tenth Anniversary of the East Asia Summit; ii) EAS Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates; iii) EAS Statement on Countering Violent Extremism; iv) East Asia Summit Statement on Issues Related to Security of and in the Use of Information and Communications Technologies; v) EAS Statement on Enhancing Regional Maritime Cooperation; and vi) Statement on Enhancing Regional Health Security relating to Communicable Diseases with Epidemic and Pandemic Potential.

In addition, a roadmap, Asia Pacific Leader's Malaria Elimination Roadmap and a Comprehensive Asia Development Plan 2.0 was also endorsed.

"2015 Kuala Lumpur Declaration on the Establishment of the ASEAN Community” and the "Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together”.

APEC

• APEC stands for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
• It is a regional economic forum of 21 Pacific Rim
• Established in 1989
• APEC’s 21 members aim to promote free trade throughout the Asia
• APEC account for about half the world’s trade and almost
• Why was it established?
• In response to the growing interdependence of Asia blocs in other parts of the world;
• To fears that highly industrialized Japan (a member of G8) would come to dominate economic activity in the Asia-Pacific region; and
• To establish new markets for agricultural products and raw materials beyond Europe
• India is not a member. India has applied but membership was denied because it does not border
• Pacific Ocean

India is an observer member in APEC
HQ: Singapore

Latest Summit:

• Pasay, Metro Manila (Philippines), Nov 2015

Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)

It is an economic union of states located in Northern Eura

Established in 2015
HQ : Moscow
5 members :

1. Armenia
2. Belarus
3. Kazakhstan
4. Kyrgyzstan
5. Russia

The EEU introduces the free movement of goods, capital, services and people and provides for common transport, agriculture and energy policies
In future, it can evolve with provisions for a single currency and greater integration

G7

• The Group of 7 (G7) is a group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• The European Union is also represented within the G7.
• These countries are the seven major advanced economies as reported by the International Monetary Fund.
• G7 countries represent more than 64% of the net global wealth
• Common denominator among members is the economy and long-term political motives

Latest Summit:

• Kashiko Island (Japan), May 2016

G20

• It is an international forum for the governments and central bank governors from 20 major economies.
• Founded in 1999
• Its aim was to review policy decisions to enhance international financial stability
• First Head of State Summit was held in 2008 (Due to Economic Crisis)

20 Members ( EU + 19 Countries) :

1. Argentina,
2. Australia,
3. Brazil,
4. Canada,
5. China,
6. France,
7. Germany,
8. India,
9. Indonesia,
10. Italy,
11. Japan,
12. South Korea,
13. Mexico,
14. Russia,
15. Saudi Arabia,
16. South Africa,
17. Turkey,
18. United Kingdom and
19. United States

• G20 economies account for around 85% of the gross world product (GWP), 80% of world trade (or, if excluding EU intra-trade, 75%), and two-thirds of the world population
• G20 replaced G8 as the main economic council of wealthy nations

Latest Summit:

• Antalya, Turkey, Nov 2015
• In 2016, will be held in Hangzhou, China

Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
It is a Eurasian political, economic, and military organisation
Founded in 2001 in Shanghai
6 members:

1. China,
2. Kazakhstan,
3. Kyrgyzstan,
4. Russia,
5. Tajikistan, and
6. Uzbekistan

• SCO evolved from Shanghai Five (All above mi nus Uzbekistan)
• On July 10, 2015, the SCO decided to admit India and Pakistan as full members, and they are expected to join by 2016
• Main activities: cooperation on security, military activities, and economic and cultural cooperation
• Member countries are rich in energy resources (both fossil fuels and uranium)

HQ : Beijing, China
Latest Summit:

• Ufa (Russia), July 2015
• Uzbekistan, June 2016

RAISINA DIALOGUE
The Ministry of External Affairs will be co-hosted the first Raisina Dialogue with the Observer Research Foundation on 1-3 March 2016, in New Delhi.

Visualized as India's flagship international dialogue, the Raisina Dialogue will had more than 450 participants from around 40 countries.

Focusing on the theme of 'Asia: Regional and Global Connectivity', the dialogue will enable the MEA to reach out to a wider international multidisciplinary audience.

The conference was held jointly by Ministry of External Affairs and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), an independent think tank based in India.

It is based on India’s vital role in the Indian Ocean Region and how India along with its partners can build a stable regional and world order.

The conference is being seen as the government’s attempt to rival conferences around the world that attract global players such as the Shangri-La dialogue in Singapore, and the Munich Conference on national security.

India’s Foreign minister pointed out that that India’s plans for connectivity were “cooperative rather than a unilateral approach”.

By: Balalatha Mallavarapu

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