On August 28, 2025, Roundtable on “Charting RCEP’s Course: A Way Forward” was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The event was co-hosted by China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD), Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia, and Boao Forum for Asia Academy (BFA Academy), with support from Hainan Institute for Free Trade Port Studies (HIFTPS). More than 60 representatives from 13 countries and international organizations—including China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, RCEP Support Unit, and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)—participated in the meeting.

At the opening session, Yose Rizal Damuri, Executive Director of CSIS Indonesia, delivered welcoming remarks. Yang Rui, Executive President of CIRD and President of RCEP Research Institute, made brief remarks on behalf of the organizers, expressing appreciation for the support of all sides. Professor Chi Fulin, President of CIRD, delivered a written keynote speech titled “From 1.0 to 2.0: RCEP’s Strategic Choice at a Critical Juncture”. Special addresses were delivered by Zhang Jun, Secretary General of Boao Forum for Asia, and Raden Mohammad Marty Muliana Natalegawa, Former Foreign Minister of the Republic of Indonesia. Jusuf Wanandi, Co-Founder of CSIS Indonesia and Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees CSIS, delivered the closing remarks.

Session I, “Meaningful RCEP Utilization and Institutional Infrastructure” was moderated by Julia Tijaja, Associate Senior Fellow at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute. Keynote speeches were delivered by Mari Elka Pangestu, Special Envoy of the President for International Trade and Multilateral Cooperation, Republic of Indonesia; Rebecca Fatima Sta Maria, Former Executive Director of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation; and Tu Xinquan, Professor and Dean of China Institute for WTO Studies at University of International Business and Economics. Discussants included Peter Drysdale, Emeritus Professor of Economics, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University and Director of East Asia Bureau of Economic Research; Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Former Undersecretary of Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines; Nguyen Huy Hoang, President and Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Vietnam Graduate Academy of Social Sciences; Chheng Kimlong, Director of Asia Vision Institute, Cambodia; Kuang Xianming, Vice President of CIRD and Vice President of RCEP Research Institute; and Wang Yuehong, Assistant Researcher of RCEP Research Institute, CIRD.

Session II, “Measured RCEP Expansion of Scope and Membership” was moderated by Zhang Jianping, Deputy Director of Academic Committee of Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China. Keynote speeches were delivered by Dina Kurniasari, ASEAN Co-Chair of the RCEP Joint Committee and Director of WTO Negotiations, Ministry of Trade, Indonesia; Anna Robeniol, Senior Policy Fellow of ERIA; and Denis Hew, Senior Research Fellow of Centre on Asia and Globalisation, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore. Discussants included Kim Heungchong, Distinguished Professor of Graduate School of International Studies at Korea University; Saowaruj Rattanakhamfu, Research Director Innovation Policy for Sustainable Development, Thailand Development Research Institute; Shandre Mugan Thangavelu, Head of the Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia at Sunway University; Takashi Terada, Professor of Doshisha University and Rommel Banlaoi, President of the Philippine Society for International Security Studies.

This roundtable discussion formed part of the activities of the RCEP Think Tank Network (RCEPTTN), which aims to promote inclusive and practical dialogue, facilitate discussions, and provide policy recommendations on major issues arising from RCEP’s implementation. Also attending the meeting were Chen Wei, Vice President of CIRD; Guo Da, Executive President of HIFTPS; and Wang Hongsen, Secretary General of HIFTPS.