Bangladesh, Sept. 25 -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) ministers have approved the advancement of the accession process for Bangladesh, alongside Chile, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka.

Advertisement The decision was announced in a Joint Media Statement following the 5th RCEP Ministers' Meeting held in Manila, the Philippines, on September 21, 2026.

The meeting approved the recommendation of the RCEP Joint Committee to establish an ad hoc Accession Working Group to proceed with Bangladesh's accession process.

The meeting was co-chaired by Diah Roro Esti Widya Putri, vice minister of trade of Indonesia, and Dr Shane Reti, member of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee of the New Zealand Parliament.

Talking...