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The paper frames the trade relationship between China and Malaysia within the context of ASEAN and the impending RCEP. Specifically trade potentials are derived for the bilateral partnership within the two structures to identify whether China's external options under the RCEP affect her relationship with Malaysia. Potentials for trade expansion between China and Malaysia, estimated through a three-dimensional panel gravity model, are found to be marginally lower under the RCEP structure relative to ASEAN. More importantly, trade potentials appear exhausted for major products traded under both contexts. This suggests a change (decline) in the trade posture of the China-Malaysia partnership, as relative advantages are most likely to be altered under the expanded matrix of Chinese relations with RCEP members. In coping with the larger matrix structure, both nations should innovate new forms of bilateral cooperation, beyond trade, to enhance their strategic partnership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents information regarding Conference on Asian Trade Routes: Continental and Maritime, being held from August 27-30, 1984, at Krogerup Folk High School in Humleback. The organizers are accepting papers not only on the traditionally known trade routes, like the Silk Road, the kind, amount, and value of merchandise transported on them, and so forth, but will particularly welcome papers illuminating the far less known local routes and feeder routes, such as those extending from the Silk Road, or those bringing goods from producers to main shipping ports, or from these to local consumers. Also papers tracing trade connections, for example, based on metallurgical studies indicating ancient or later trade between West and Southeast Asia, will be appreciated.