Japan, New Zealand Vow Cooperation to Effectuate TPP

Tokyo, May 17 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his New Zealand counterpart, Bill English, on Wednesday agreed on cooperation to effectuate the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement even without the United States. Abe and English also agreed to work closely over North Korea's nuclear and missile development and the South China Sea situation marked by China's increasing assertiveness. As promotors of free trade, Japan and New Zealand aim to realize the effectuation of the TPP at an early date and achieve an early conclusion of a proposed high-quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade pact among 16 Asia-Pacific countries, Abe said at a joint press conference. New Zealand will strive with Japan to advance the important pact, English said, suggesting his country's intention to lead ministerial discussions on the TPP that will be held among the current 11 member countries in Vietnam on Sunday. Japan and New Zealand have already ratified the TPP by completing their domestic procedures. The United States has withdrawn from the multilateral trade agreement under the policy of President Donald Trump, reducing the TPP members from 12. Regarding North Korea, Abe said that decisive responses are necessary following provocative behavior by Pyongyang. New Zealand will keep strongly calling on the reclusive state to give up its nuclear ambition, English said. Abe stated that the two leaders affirmed the importance of maintaining and strengthening international order based on the rule of law. This was the first visit to Japan by English since he took office in December last year. After the day's meeting, the Japanese and New Zealand governments signed a memorandum of understanding to promote human and information exchanges in the sports field. END