A regional association of Southeast Asian nations held a three-way summit Tuesday with China and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in efforts to expand economic engagement and bolster resilience as they grapple with a volatile global trading system due to US tariff hikes.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in his opening remarks, said the inaugural summit in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur would open up a new chapter of dialogue and cooperation.
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the GCC and China collectively has a combined GDP of nearly $25 billion and a market of over 2 billion people, offering vast opportunities to synergize their markets and promote cross-regional investment, he said.
“I am confident that ASEAN, the GCC, and China can draw upon our unique attributes and shape a future that is more connected, more resilient, and more prosperous,” he told the summit, attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Li said the three-way cooperation would benefit all sides, contributing to economic development and peace in the region. China is ASEAN's top trading partner, and has sought to present itself as a reliable ally to the region amid its rivalry with the US. The GCC supplies over a third of China's crude oil imports.
“China will join ASEAN and the GCC in forging synergies that multiply rather than simply at our own strength,” he said.
Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Earlier Tuesday, Anwar told a separate ASEAN-GCC forum that partnership between the two blocs would be key to navigate an increasingly complex world due to economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges.
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah said the two blocs, which held their first summit in Riyadh in 2023, would build on their momentum to deepen cooperation and “improve our ability to face crisis.” He said the GCC is ASEAN's seventh largest trade partner, with total trade reaching $130.7 billion in 2023.
The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Anwar said last week the GCC already has strong links with the US and “wants to be close to China too.”
The second GCC-ASEAN summit marks a turning point in relations between the Gulf and Southeast Asian nations, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said on Sunday.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting ahead of the summit, Albudaiwi said the partnership holds vast potential to strengthen security, development, and prosperity across both regions, serving the interests of their peoples and enhancing their joint presence on the global stage.
“This summit comes at a pivotal moment in regional and global history, where major transformations intersect with the aspirations of our peoples for a more stable future,” Albudaiwi said.
He stressed the growing need for coordinated, responsive, and integrated regional partnerships, and reaffirmed a collective commitment to advancing cooperation to broader and more impactful horizons.
Albudaiwi noted that since the first GCC-ASEAN summit in Riyadh in October 2023, the GCC General Secretariat has worked to implement strategic priorities endorsed by both sides. Specialized working groups were formed and cooperation tracks activated across various fields.
He highlighted several joint initiatives, including the Gulf-ASEAN Investment and Economic Forum held in Riyadh in May 2024, which served as a platform to align visions and reinforce the shared ambition to build a strategic economic partnership.
