(Sept 12): Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Wednesday said he was not sure if an agreement on major regional trade pact backed by China will be finalised this year.

Member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are working to finalise terms of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade agreement, which also includes China, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand.

"(We) hope to achieve a substantial conclusion to the RCEP by the end of this year, but that is not yet assured," Lee said at a World Economic Forum event in Hanoi.