A historic maiden summit between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is set to convene on Friday with full participation from Southeast Asia leaders.
The summit is being held against the backdrop of increasing regional and international interest and competition by major powers in the Southeast Asian region, given its strategic location and significance.
The summit will elevate cooperation and coordination in various areas between the GCC and ASEAN to a “strategic level” and explore new opportunities on multiple fronts.
Leaders attending the summit are slated to discuss ways to enhance and expand cooperation into new and emerging areas, such as green and digital economies, a spokesperson from the Singaporean Foreign Ministry told Asharq Al-Awsat.
Relations between the two regions have gained momentum, with noticeable development and effectiveness.
All GCC member states have signed the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).
Bahrain was the first Gulf country to join the treaty, signing it in November 2019 in the Thai capital, Bangkok.
Subsequently, other Gulf states followed suit in the past year, emphasizing the importance of cooperation in the Southeast Asian region, particularly as it aligns with the principles of the UN Charter.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan emphasized that “strong relations with the treaty member states will contribute to realizing the aspirations of all countries towards achieving sustainable development goals, enhancing collective efforts, and creating new developmental and economic opportunities for all.”
On Wednesday, leaders and heads of delegations participating at the first ASEAN-GCC summit began arriving in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in preparation for the summit.
Preceding the event were bilateral meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was the first to arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday, holding an official discussion session with the Crown Prince.
During the meeting, they reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries, prospects for cooperation, and opportunities for development in various fields.
They discussed the latest regional and international developments.
