Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya affirmed Kuwait’s participation in the second summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as the upcoming trilateral summit involving the GCC, ASEAN, and China, reflects the country’s strong commitment to international partnerships and fostering closer ties with regional blocs.
In a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday, Al-Yahya highlighted Kuwait’s readiness to take part in both high-level summits and the accompanying economic forum, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur from May 26 to 28.
He announced that His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, representing His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, will lead the Kuwaiti and GCC delegations, in line with Kuwait’s current presidency of the 45th session of the GCC Supreme Council.
Al-Yahya emphasized that this participation illustrates Kuwait’s dedication to promoting multilateral cooperation and deepening engagement with ASEAN nations and China—especially as Gulf-Asian relations continue to flourish across various sectors, serving mutual interests.
The Foreign Minister outlined the GCC-ASEAN Cooperation Framework (2024–2028), which centers around four strategic areas political dialogue, economic and trade collaboration, energy and food security and coordination in international platforms.
He noted that the upcoming summits will provide valuable opportunities for leaders to exchange perspectives on regional and global developments and align their positions within international forums.
Al-Yahya stressed the strategic importance of the summits in advancing regional integration and expanding cooperation with ASEAN and China in fields of common interest.
Key topics on the agenda include food and energy security, digital transformation and innovation, logistical connectivity and education and tourism.
These areas support broader efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and reinforce regional peace and stability.
Reflecting on the inaugural ASEAN-GCC Summit in Riyadh (2023), Al-Yahya highlighted the event’s role in defining future cooperation priorities between the two regions.
The Minister reiterated that Kuwait’s participation under the leadership of His Highness the Amir and Crown Prince underscores its ongoing commitment to “development diplomacy” and building influential global partnerships. He described the summits as critical platforms for communication and coordination on issues of mutual concern, aimed at reinforcing long-term cooperation.
He expressed optimism that the outcomes will lay the foundation for institutionalized cooperation mechanisms between the GCC, ASEAN, and China — helping to monitor progress, activate joint initiatives, and broaden collaborative ventures in key sectors.
Al-Yahya revealed that His Highness the Crown Prince will hold a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of participating countries during the summits and the economic forum.
These discussions will focus on strengthening bilateral ties, exchanging insights on prominent regional and global challenges, and exploring new opportunities for cooperation that support shared strategic goals.
