ASEAN-GCC-China Summit participants pose for a group photo.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27: In a historic gathering marked by shared ambition and expanding ties, leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China convened, Tuesday, in Kuala Lumpur for a trilateral summit aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation across key sectors. The summit was co-chaired by Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Premier of China Li Qiang In his opening address, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait and expressed hope that the summit would mark a pivotal step in building a deeper, more resilient trilateral partnership. He extended sincere gratitude to the Malaysian government for its hospitality and excellent summit arrangements. “This is more than a diplomatic engagement, it is a clear expression of our collective recognition that today’s world demands multilateral cooperation grounded in integration, sustainable development, and mutual respect,” His Highness stated. He noted that the summit comes at a time of profound global shifts, economic uncertainty, and urgent environmental and geopolitical challenges.

In this context, GCC-ASEAN and GCC-China relations have matured into robust partnerships rooted in mutual benefit, institutional collaboration, and long-term planning. His Highness highlighted previous milestones such as the first GCCChina Summit in Riyadh in 2022 and the inaugural GCC-ASEAN Summit in 2023, which laid the groundwork for today’s trilateral cooperation. “This summit is a natural evolution of those efforts, a gateway to a new dynamic phase of collaboration between three of the world’s most vibrant and economically vital regions,” he said. He emphasized the importance of ongoing frameworks, including the Joint Action Plan for Strategic Dialogue with China (2023-2027) and the Strategic Cooperation Framework with ASEAN (2024-2028).

These documents, he noted, provide comprehensive roadmaps for deepening cooperation in renewable energy, advanced technology, education, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and scientific research. His Highness pointed to strong economic indicators underscoring the vitality of these relationships, saying that in 2023 trade between the GCC and China reached approximately USD 298 billion. While foreign direct investment (FDI) flows between the two amounted to USD 19 billion and trade with ASEAN also exceeded USD 122 billion, he added that these figures reflect a “genuine momentum that deserves further expansion.” He urged renewed efforts to finalize the Free Trade Agreement between the GCC and China, ease trade barriers, and expand investment flows. He also advocated for the strengthening of the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum as a platform for innovation and joint ventures in areas such as infrastructure, green energy, and the digital economy. “Our central place in the global economy, combined with our human and natural capital, places a shared responsibility on us to craft integrative policies that ensure food and water security, drive clean energy development, and support innovation and sustainability,” he remarked.

His Highness laid out five key pillars for deepened trilateral cooperation, including trade and investment integration, energy and food security, advanced technology and digital transformation, cultural, educational, and health cooperation, and a unified international stance. Turning to regional crises, His Highness addressed the “ongoing humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. He reaffirmed the GCC’s support for the Palestinian cause and called for an end to the aggression, the protection of civilians, and the resumption of a genuine peace process based on international law and the Arab Peace Initiative. “We deeply appreciate the positions taken by our friends in ASEAN and China in support of the Palestinian people,” he said. On Syria, he welcomed recent positive developments and reiterated GCC support for efforts that uphold Syria’s sovereignty and unity, aiming to restore stability and dignity to its people. Concluding his remarks, His Highness called for effective follow-up mechanisms to translate summit outcomes into concrete programs that benefit people and economies of all participating nations.

“Let us ensure this summit is not merely a statement of intent, but a launchpad for tangible progress. Our partnership deserves nothing less than success and prosperity,” he concluded. The trilateral summit was widely hailed as a landmark event with farreaching implications for regional cooperation, economic growth, and political coordination across Asia and the Gulf. Earlier, Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah underscored the urgent need for deeper regional and international collaboration to address pressing global challenges. The call was made during the opening of the second GCC-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, under the joint leadership of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim. His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Sabah is the current chair of GCC, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah delivered the summit’s opening address, expressing warm greetings on behalf of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and extended sincere wishes for the summit’s success in strengthening the growing partnership between the two regional blocs. In his remarks, the Crown Prince emphasized the global importance of the GCC and ASEAN, highlighting their combined economic strength, vast populations, and strategic locations, saying that the two regions account for a gross domestic product of nearly USD six trillion and a combined population of approximately 740 million. Recalling the inaugural GCC-ASEAN Summit held in Riyadh in October 2023, the Crown Prince described it as a pivotal moment for shaping a comprehensive partnership, and affirmed the commitment of the GCC to building upon this momentum through the “2024-2028 Strategic Cooperation Framework,” which outlines practical steps to establish cooperation and achieve tangible progress.

The Crown Prince stressed that economic cooperation remains a top priority, and noted that in 2023, the GCC was ASEAN’s seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD 130.7 billion, and projected growth of 30 percent over the next decade to an expected USD 180 billion by 2032. He highlighted the opportunities for expanding trade, investments, and partnerships across sectors, including energy, technology, and sustainable development. On energy security and climate action, the Crown Prince lauded ASEAN’s progress in renewable energy and reiterated the GCC’s readiness to share expertise in clean energy, green hydrogen, and low-carbon technologies to support global climate goals, particularly the Paris Agreement. The Crown Prince also called for enhanced cooperation in food security, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, and proposed establishing mechanisms for knowledge exchange and joint projects, including infrastructure development and innovation in agriculture and supply chain resilience. In cultural and human exchange, the Crown Prince proposed designating 2026 as the “Year of Cultural Convergence” between the GCC and ASEAN, including cultural festivals, exhibitions, and reciprocal events such as an ASEAN Day in a GCC country and a GCC Cultural Day in an ASEAN member state. He also advocated for initiatives empowering youth and women through training programs and entrepreneurship support.

Turning to pressing regional and global issues, the Crown Prince reaffirmed the GCC’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities by ensuring the protection of civilians in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories and supporting a credible peace process based on international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and also welcomed ASEAN’s solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Regarding Syria, the Crown Prince welcomed positive developments on the ground and reiterated the GCC’s support for efforts to maintain Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with the aim of restoring stability and opening pathways for development and prosperity. The Crown Prince also stressed that the success of the summit lies not only in the adoption of recommendations but in translating shared ambitions into actionable initiatives, and proposed establishing a high-level follow-up mechanism, co-managed by the GCC and ASEAN Secretariats, to monitor progress and ensure continued engagement. The Crown Prince extended an invitation to ASEAN nations to participate in Expo 2030, which will be hosted in Riyadh, as a global platform for showcasing sustainable partnerships, innovative technologies, and economic and cultural exchange.(KUNA)