Tokyo (VNA) – Vietnam, as a big economy in ASEANin terms of both trade and investment, has an important role in Japan’sstrategy involving the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership(CP TPP), according to a Japanese expert. Prof. Koichi Ishikawa from the Institute of Asian Studiesunder the Asia University, Japan, said in the context of the US, an ally ofJapan, withdrawing from the TPP and seeking bilateral free trade agreements(FTAs), Japan had made successful efforts to push for the CP TPP. He told the Vietnam News Agency in an interview on theoccasion of the CP TPP signing that the Japanese government estimated that thedeal with 11 members would contribute to expanding Japan’s GDP by 1.49 percent.In case it has 12 members, the figure would be 2.49 percent. Ishikawa said the GDP expansion for Japan with the CP TPPwithout the US would be smaller, but 1.49 percent was still a significantfigure for the Japanese economy, considering the recent low growth rate. He noted that the CP TPP issues many new regulations in thefields of e-commerce, products’ origin, intellectual property and State-ownedenterprises, therefore the deal is dubbed an FTA of the 21st centuryand a model for future FTAs in the world. According to Ishikawa, the CP TPP would be an effective toolto curb the spread of US protectionism policies.-VNA