Study of Economic and Trade Cooperation among China, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN within the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Framework

Zhang Xiao and Inna V. Andronova

Chapter 3 in The Sustainable Development of the Entrepreneurial Economy in the Fifth Industrial Revolution, 2026, pp 31-38 from World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.

Abstract: The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) officially entered into force on January 1, 2022. By June 2, 2023, it became fully operational for 10 ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand – totaling 15 signatory nations. As the world’s most populous free trade zone, encompassing the largest economies and trade volumes with the highest development potential, the RCEP plays an increasingly crucial role in fostering a more prosperous regional integrated market. This research analyzes the current state and future trends of economic and trade cooperation between China, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN within the VREP framework. The authors employ investigative and literature analysis methods to explore the history of cooperation among China, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN, examine the relevant chapters of the RCEP, and conduct statistical and analytical assessments of trade data. The results indicate that China, Japan, and South Korea, being key East Asian economies, have exhibited diverse characteristics in their cooperation history with ASEAN. Opportunities and challenges in economic and trade cooperation between China, Japan, South Korea, and ASEAN within the RCEP coexist; the three countries, alongside ASEAN nations, have demonstrated varying approaches in selecting their paths for economic and trade collaboration. In the future, ASEAN+3 will become one of the main drivers of global economic growth. China, Japan, and South Korea must maintain significant independence and flexibility in their cooperation with ASEAN.

Keywords: Sustainable Development; Entrepreneurship; Innovation; Technology; Information Management; Organizational Behavior; Industrial Organization; Entrepreneurial Economy; Fifth Industrial Revolution; Cause-and-Effect Relationships; Fourth Industrial Revolution; Digital Technology; Industry 5.0; Operations Management; Operations Research; Supply Chain Management; Fintech; Cryptocurrency; Blockchain; Economics and Finance; Corporate Governance; Technological Environment; National Economy; State Management; Corporate Management; Agro-Industrial Complex 5.0; Fuel and Energy Complex 5.0; BRICS; EAEU; Central Asia; Social Responsibility; Digital Competitiveness; Digital Energy; Entrepreneurial Universities 5.0; Machine Learning; Cyber-Social System; Smart Company; Management of AI; Automatization; Decision-Making in Entrepreneurship; Big Data; Blockchain Finance; Robotisation Of Production; Applied Technological Solutions; Smart City; Local Entrepreneurial Economy; Modernisation; Institutes of Globalisation; E-Government; Innovative Economy; Knowledge Society; BRICS+ (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L26 O33 Q01 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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