序 言

PREAMBLE

本协定缔约方：

The Parties to this Agreement,

忆及东南亚国家联盟(本协定以下简称“东盟”)成员国与澳大利亚、中国、印度、日本、韩国和新西兰国家元首或政府首脑于2012年11月20日在柬埔寨金边发表的《关于启动<区域全面经济伙伴关系协定>谈判的联合声明》与通过的《<区域全面经济伙伴关系协定>谈判指导原则和目标》；

RECALLING the Joint Declaration on the Launch of Negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership adopted by the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter referred to as “ASEAN” in this Agreement) and Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand at Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 20 November 2012 which endorsed the Guiding Principles and Objectives for Negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership;

期望通过本协定，在缔约方之间现有经济联系的基础上，扩大并深化本地区经济一体化，增强经济增长和公平的经济发展，推进经济合作；

DESIRING to broaden and deepen economic integration in the region, strengthen economic growth and equitable economic development, and advance economic cooperation, through this Agreement, which will build upon existing economic linkages among the Parties;

希望增强缔约方的经济伙伴关系，以创造新的就业机会，提高生活水平，改善各国人民的普遍福利；

ASPIRING to strengthen their economic partnership to create new employment opportunities, raise living standards, and improve the general welfare of their peoples;

寻求建立清晰且互利的规则，以便利贸易和投资，包括参与区域和全球供应链；

SEEKING to establish clear and mutually advantageous rules to facilitate trade and investment, including participation in regional and global supply chains;

基于1994年4月15日在马拉喀什签署的《马拉喀什建立世界贸易组织协定》，以及东盟成员国与其自由贸易伙伴，即澳大利亚、中国、日本、韩国、新西兰之间现有的自由贸易协定项下的各自的权利和义务；

BUILDING upon their respective rights and obligations under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization done at Marrakesh on 15 April 1994, and the existing free trade agreements between the Member States of ASEAN and their free trade partners, namely Australia, China, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand;

顾及到缔约方间不同的发展水平，对适当形式的灵活性的需要，包括对特别是柬埔寨、老挝人民民主共和国、缅甸，以及在适当情况下，对越南，提供的特殊和差别待遇，和对最不发达国家缔约方采取的额外的灵活性；

TAKING ACCOUNT OF the different levels of development among the Parties, the need for appropriate forms of flexibility, including provision for special and differential treatment, especially for Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam as appropriate, and additional flexibility for Least Developed Country Parties;

考虑到需要帮助最不发达国家缔约方更多地参与本协定，以便他们能够更有效地履行其在本协定项下的义务和利用本协定带来的利益，包括扩大其贸易和投资机会以及参与区域和全球供应链；

CONSIDERING the need to facilitate the increasing participation of Least Developed Country Parties in this Agreement so that they can more effectively implement their obligations under this Agreement and take advantage of the benefits from this Agreement, including expansion of their trade and investment opportunities and participation in regional and global supply chains;

认识到良好的治理以及可预期、透明和稳定的商业环境将促进经济效率的提高和贸易与投资的发展；

RECOGNISING that good governance and a predictable, transparent, and consistent business environment will lead to the improvement of economic efficiency and the development of trade and investment;

重申每一缔约方为实现合法的公共福利目标而进行监管的权利；

REAFFIRMING the right of each Party to regulate in pursuit of legitimate public welfare objectives;

认识到可持续发展的三大支柱是相互依存、相互促进的，以及经济伙伴关系能够在促进可持续发展方面发挥重要作用；以及

RECOGNISING that the three pillars of sustainable development are interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and that economic partnership can play an important role in promoting sustainable development; and

进一步认识到区域贸易协定和安排在加快区域和全球贸易投资自由化方面可产生的积极作用，以及在促进开放、自由和以规则为基础的多边贸易体制方面的作用，

FURTHER RECOGNISING the positive effect that regional trade agreements and arrangements can have in accelerating regional and global trade and investment liberalisation, and their role in strengthening the open, free, and rules-based multilateral trading system,