(VOVworld)- ASEAN and its six partners, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand and India (ASEAN+6) began their first round of negotiations on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on Thursday. During the first 5-day round in Brunei, they will discuss the scope and method of RCEP negotiations to complete talks by 2015. Apart from setting up a committee comprising of senior officials, ASEAN+6 will establish working groups to engage in stimulating the exchange of goods, services and investment. Once established, the RCEP will be one of the world’s largest free trade area with over 3 billion people, accounting for half of the global market and one third of the global economic output.