GCC-ASEAN, ASEAN-GCC-CHINA summits kick off in Kuala Lumpur

The Second ASEAN-GCC Summit, the first trilateral summit of the ASEAN, GCC, and China began in Kuala Lumpur as part of the 46th ASEAN Summit. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s representative, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is taking part in the trilateral summit as well as other grand events.

In a statement to KUNA, Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Secretary General Jassem Al-Budaiwi affirmed the strong strategic partnership with ASEAN countries and China.

He also said that the GCC would be highlighting the plight of the Palestinian people especially those in the Gaza Strip, affirming it was one of the priorities of the council during its participation.

He affirmed that there was close coordination over political, economic, and security issues, hoping that the summits would come out with historical agreements reflecting the strength of ASEAN-GCC-Chinese relations.

A statement by the Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office revealed that the summits would focus on expanding joint commerce, investments, and sustainable development that would align with the ASEAN countries’ ambitions in a leadership role within the geo-economics sphere of the Indo-Pacific region.

The statement reiterated the ASEAN’s role in reshaping cooperation in accordance with realities of a multipolar world, noting that the side summits of the GCC-ASEAN and the ASEAN-GCC-China reflected the strength of regional solidarity, which has implications both regionally and internationally.

The summits also reflected the Kuala Lumpur declaration on ASEAN 2045 “Our Shared Future” and the signing of the renewable energy accord between companies from Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

The ASEAN-GCC summit also succeeded in launching negotiations on a free trade agreement, it added. There are more Southeastern Asian centric summits to be held on the sideline of the grand event, affirmed the statement, noting that Malaysia hopes to bolster its leading role in the ASEAN, deepening in the process regional and international partnerships during its presidency of ASEAN in 2025.

The 46th ASEAN Summit is officially expected to conclude with a press conference by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, followed by an official dinner banquet within the ASEAN-GCC-China economic forum. – KUNA