On the afternoon of May 28, 2026, the RCEP Member States Think Tank and Media Dialogue, a parallel event of the 2026 RCEP Local Governments and Friendship Cities Cooperation (Huangshan) Forum, was held in Huangshan, Anhui Province. Professor Chi Fulin, President of China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD) and President of Hainan Institute for Free Trade Port Studies (HIFTPS), was invited to attend the dialogue and deliver remarks on the theme of “Leveraging the Collective Strength of Think Tanks to Advance RCEP to a Higher Level”.

Professor Chi Fulin pointed out that, in preparation for the first General Review in 2027, the key task is to advance RCEP toward a higher level. Substantive progress should be achieved in four priority areas: first, further expanding market opening; second, promoting higher-standard rule upgrading; third, improving governance mechanisms; and fourth, accelerating effective expansion. Through these efforts, RCEP can develop into a regional economic integration platform that is implementable, monitorable, binding and governable, further deepen the integration of regional industrial and supply chains, and enhance regional economic resilience and risk resistance.

Professor Chi Fulin suggested that, at this critical stage of RCEP implementation and upgrading, think tanks should work together to advance RCEP to a higher level. Think tanks should serve as “servers” that strengthen research support, “connectors” that facilitate exchanges and cooperation, and “accelerators” that enhance capacity building. He also proposed that, in preparation for the 2027 General Review of RCEP, local governments, enterprises and think tanks should actively put forward their proposals, make their voices heard, and build collective momentum to support the upgrading and development of RCEP.

It is learned that RCEP 2.0: From “the Largest in Scale” to “Higher in Standards” (Chinese and English editions) is based on CIRD’s research findings and policy recommendations developed over recent years regarding the future upgrading of RCEP. Since 2022, CIRD has published a series of research outputs on RCEP, including RCEP: The World’s Largest Free Trade Area and Shared Dividends: RCEP — The World’s Largest Free Trade Area (Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean editions), contributing to policy research and public discussion on regional economic integration and the future development of RCEP.

Yang Rui, Executive President of CIRD and Secretary-General of RCEPTTN, and Liang Hui, Secretary-General of CIRD-Grandall Center of FTP Law Studies, attended the forum.