GCC seeks stronger ties with Asean on security, trade

The Star

23-05-2025

SEPANG: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is ready to work more closely with Asean to improve security and to keep the region safe and stable.
GCC assistant secretary general for political and negotiations Dr Abdel Aziz Abu Hamad Aluwaisheg said the council was established 43 years ago with security as one of its main goals, apart from being a political grouping and economic bloc.
"Security for us is very important. We live, unfortunately, in a very dangerous neighbourhood but we have maintained stability and security in our region. We also try to help our neighbours do the same," he told Bernama upon arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1, here on Friday (May 23) ahead of the 46th Asean Summit.
Abdel Aziz said the GCC also believes it shares common values with Asean, especially in staying neutral in world politics.
"What we share with Asean on security is that there is a pole to side with one pole or another, in big world conflicts involving the United States, Europe and China, and we have chosen all of us to be independent and neutral.
"We have maintained excellent relationships with all of them, between India and Pakistan, between the United Statesand Russia. I think we should continue to be that way," Abdel Aziz remarked.
The GCC brings together the six states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as an economic and political grouping in the Arabian Gulf established through a charter signed in Abu Dhabi on May 25, 1981.
Asked on GCC's key expectation from this Asean Summit, the Saudi Arabian diplomat said the forthcoming event is highly anticipated where both regional groups aim to take their cooperation to the next level.
He added that over the past two years, the GCC has established a solid framework for cooperation with Asean, namely in political dialogue, security and trade.
"In the economic level, we are already exploring to establish a free trade area between Asean and the GCC. At the same time, we are considering establishing trade ties between Malaysia and the GCC as a group. We are optimistic that this summit will push our cooperation further and faster," he added.
The attention is also focused on a parallel Asean-GCC Summit and Asean-GCC-China Summit which expected to mark a significant step forward in regional diplomacy.
It was reported that Premier Li Qiang will represent China in the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur next week.
The 46th Asean Summit, slated to be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on May 26 and 27, will bring together leaders from Asean member states to discuss regional issues and chart the future direction of Asean cooperation.
With the theme Inclusivity and Sustainability, this will mark Malaysia's fifth time chairing Asean, following previous terms in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015. – Bernama