RCEP trade deal in focus as Asia-Pacific leaders gather in Bangkok

South China Sea and North Korea also on agenda at ASEAN and East Asia Summit

20191030 CHINA CARGO THROUGHOUT

A port in China's Shandong Province: China is eager to wrap up the RCEP trade deal, but India is holding out for exemptions. © AP

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

BANGKOK -- Leaders of Asia-Pacific nations will gather in Bangkok through Monday to finalize a historic trade pact as well as to discuss territorial disputes in the South China Sea, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and other issues.

The 35th ASEAN Summit and related meetings begin on Thursday. A chairmanship handover ceremony will be held on Monday, with Vietnam taking the baton from Thailand.

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