ASEAN, GCC, China Commit To Strengthen Tripartite Cooperation For Tangible Impact
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (second, right) with China's Premier Li Qiang (second, left), Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi officiating Gala Dinner and inaugurated the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Economic Forum 2025, last night. --fotoBERNAMA (2025) COPYRIGHT RESERVED
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China have reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepen cooperation across broad areas, charting a united and collective path toward a peaceful, prosperous, and equitable future.
Their leaders, in a joint statement issued after the inaugural tripartite summit in the capital here on Tuesday, reiterated their collective resolve to work hand-in-hand to unlock the full potential of the partnership, and to ensure that this cooperation translates into tangible benefits for the peoples and communities.
On economic integration, the leaders commit to enhancing industrial and supply chain resilience and fostering sustainable trade practices for new economic opportunities in potential areas in emerging and future-oriented industries such as the digital and green economy and technologies.
They also agreed to explore the establishment of a regional business council to facilitate dialogue between businesses from ASEAN, GCC, and China in supporting enhanced trade and investment flows and the development of regional value chains.
Also, to enhance connectivity through promoting high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and sustainable infrastructure development to support interconnected and seamless economic diversification, growth, and long-term sustainability.
According to the statement, the leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on energy security and sustainability through knowledge sharing and collaboration in areas such as renewable and clean energy and green technology.
They also pledged to promote environmental sustainability through joint efforts in climate action, disaster management, biodiversity conservation, marine protection, and pollution control, as well as to pursue opportunities in digital innovation and technology by exploring a cross-regional framework and partnerships to promote the digital economy - including digital trade, e-commerce, fintech, and AI.
In food and agriculture, the joint statement said the trio parties agreed to explore cooperation in the halal food sector and support efforts to strengthen food security, advancing food trade and agricultural technologies cooperation.
They also aimed to forge greater people-to-people understanding through culture, education and high-quality tourism, among others, the statement added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
an hour ago
- Malaysiakini
Asean-GCC-China summit: Forging strategic trilateral future
LETTER | On May 27, Kuala Lumpur became the epicentre of a historic diplomatic convergence as the leaders of Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the People's Republic of China gathered for the first-ever Asean-GCC-China Summit. This unprecedented trilateral engagement, held under the chairmanship of Malaysia, marked a milestone in international diplomacy, economic cooperation and strategic alignment among three of the world's most dynamic regions. The summit was more than a mere multilateral meeting. It symbolised the coming together of regions connected by centuries of trade, civilisation, and cooperation from the ancient Silk Road and the maritime powerhouses of Melaka to the energy corridors of the Gulf and the technological advances of modern China. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as host and chair, reflected this spirit by emphasising the deep historical linkages and shared aspirations that bind these blocs together. Anwar described the summit as a 'new chapter in Asean's journey of outward-looking engagement,' underscoring the trilateral potential of a combined population exceeding 2.15 billion and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$24.87 trillion. He stressed that such a scale presents immense opportunities to synergise markets, deepen innovation, and foster cross-regional investments. Global dynamics The 2025 summit took place against a backdrop of shifting global dynamics, notably the rise in U.S. protectionism under President Donald Trump's second term. As the United States imposed new rounds of tariffs on Asean exports - reaching up to 49 percent for some member states - there was a clear impetus for regional blocs to assert strategic autonomy. The Asean-GCC-China alignment thus appeared not as a defiance of global order, but as a recalibration of priorities towards multipolarity, cooperation and balanced engagement. While Anwar was careful to reiterate that the US remains an important trade partner, he also reaffirmed Asean's intention to maintain a policy of 'constructive, balanced engagement' with all major powers. This was echoed in the summit's joint statement, which pledged to uphold international law, multilateralism and mutual respect. The summit produced a far-reaching Joint Statement, outlining commitments in six primary domains: economic integration, energy and sustainability, digital transformation, food and agriculture, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. These areas form the backbone of what the leaders termed a 'unified and collective path toward a peaceful, prosperous, and just future.' The summit reaffirmed the centrality of trade as the cornerstone of trilateral relations. Leaders committed to finalising and signing the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade and looked forward to the early conclusion of the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement. Furthermore, they proposed the establishment of a trilateral regional business council to facilitate dialogue between companies across the three regions, with a special focus on digital trade, fintech, supply chains and empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). There was also a strong push for de-dollarisation strategies, with an emphasis on local currency usage and cross-border payment systems to shield regional trade from external volatility. Infrastructure development was positioned as both an economic and symbolic enabler of regional unity. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was endorsed as a platform to enhance seamless regional connectivity, particularly through digital infrastructure, maritime security cooperation and the development of logistics corridors. These initiatives are expected to diversify economic access and deepen inter-regional trade links between the Asean archipelago, the Gulf and mainland China. On energy Energy featured prominently, reflecting the Gulf's strength as an energy powerhouse and China's and Asean's increasing drive toward clean energy transitions. The summit participants agreed to collaborate on an inclusive, affordable energy transition aligned with the Paris Agreement. Joint efforts will focus on clean hydrogen, low-carbon ammonia, carbon capture and nuclear energy guided by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. The parties also committed to strengthening energy market stability, investing in cross-border energy infrastructure such as LNG terminals and undersea power cables and promoting innovation in emerging green technologies. The leaders acknowledged digital innovation as a strategic priority. There was consensus on exploring cross-regional frameworks for cooperation in digital trade, fintech, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, blockchain and smart city development. To ensure inclusivity in the digital age, the summit endorsed skills development, digital literacy programs, and inclusive platform work protections. Food security was highlighted as an urgent issue, especially amid ongoing conflicts and supply chain disruptions. The leaders agreed to enhance sustainable agricultural practices, promote halal food trade through mutual recognition of standards and diversify food sources to strengthen regional nutrition and food resilience. Cultural diplomacy was also a core theme. The summit committed to boosting educational exchange, scholarship programs, mutual tourism marketing, and cross-cultural initiatives through art, music and literature. A special focus was placed on youth engagement and intercultural dialogue to build mutual trust and long-term friendship among the peoples of the three regions. In addition to development priorities, the summit tackled pressing global humanitarian and security concerns. The plight of Palestinians was addressed comprehensively, with the leaders jointly condemning attacks on civilians in Gaza and calling for a durable ceasefire and full humanitarian access. The summit cited the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (July 19, 2024) and UN resolutions supporting the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders. Qatar's mediation and China's role in facilitating Palestinian unity through the Beijing Declaration (July 2024) were acknowledged and praised. The leaders also endorsed Saudi Arabia's initiative to co-host a High-Level International Conference for Peace in Palestine with France in June 2025. Myanmar crisis In addressing the Myanmar crisis, the summit called for extending the ceasefire initiated after the March earthquake, although concerns were raised about the military regime's sincerity. Nonetheless, Asean reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful solution through regional consensus and diplomacy. Anwar delivered multiple keynotes during the summit and the accompanying Asean-GCC-China Economic Forum. He celebrated the event as a landmark demonstration of Asean's capacity to convene and lead amidst complexity. Anwar highlighted the rapid economic rise of the GCC, particularly in energy transition and AI development, and reaffirmed China as a vital partner for regional stability, justice, and development. He praised the summit for achieving concrete consensus on governance, economic policy, and human rights advocacy, stating that this summit proves that open dialogue and collective spirit can overcome differences. Chinese Premier Li Qiang echoed similar sentiments, emphasising China's readiness to align development strategies with Asean and GCC partners, and expressing optimism that trilateral synergies would multiply benefits across all regions. GCC leaders, including Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah, stressed the importance of building resilient partnerships to withstand global crises, while advancing negotiations on a free trade area with Asean. The summit concluded with a collective pledge to implement the joint statement through agreed mechanisms and to build on existing frameworks such as the Asean-GCC and Asean-China platforms. The leaders also looked ahead to future summits, including the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha (October 2025) and the Palestine Peace Conference (June 2025). In short, the Asean-GCC-China Summit represents a bold reimagining of global governance. It demonstrated that in a fragmented international order, regional blocs can lead with purpose, foster inclusivity and champion cooperation over conflict. With Malaysia at the helm, the summit has set a precedent for strategic trilateralism that could shape Asia and the Middle East for decades to come. NURUL AMELLYA AZHAR is a doctorate student in International Political Economy at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
BusinessToday
2 hours ago
- BusinessToday
Vietnam Govt Goes On Cost-Cutting Measures, Asks Public To Be Thrifty
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam has called on the public to promote a culture of thrift in daily life as part of the nation's broader efforts to combat wastefulness, Vietnam News Agency reported. In an article published on Sunday, he proposed the establishment of an annual national thrift day to further encourage and institutionalize this practice across society. As an example of effective cost-cutting, the Party chief highlighted the ongoing restructuring of the government apparatus, which began in late 2024. This includes the merger of provinces, the dissolution of certain district-level administrative units and the consolidation of commune-level units. These reforms are projected to save the State budget more than 20 trillion Vietnamese dong (770 million U.S. dollars) annually during the 2025-2030 period, with savings expected to exceed 30 trillion dong (1.2 billion dollars) per year from 2030 onward, he wrote. Related
Borneo Post
2 hours ago
- Borneo Post
PM Anwar: Unity not an option, it's a national requirement
Unity is the foundation of a country's development and is a catalyst for Malaysia's progress, Anwar said. – Bernama photo KUALA LUMPUR (June 2): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that national unity is no longer an option, but rather a key requirement to ensure the continuity of the country's development. He said unity is the foundation of a country's development and is a catalyst for Malaysia's progress. 'Malaysia will only remain strong if we stand together united. 'Stability and national unity are the basic conditions for all progress. In a world that is rapidly changing and full of challenges, unity is not an option, it is a necessity,' he said. Anwar said this in his congratulatory speech at the investiture ceremony to present federal awards, stars and medals by Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, in conjunction with His Majesty's official birthday celebration at Istana Negara today. In attendance was Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia. Present at the ceremony were the Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Dewan Rakyat SpeakerTan Sri Johari Abdul and Dewan Negara President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah. Also present were Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and members of the Cabinet. Anwar said the MADANI government, under the auspices and guidance of His Majesty, will continue to be committed to implementing a comprehensive reform agenda based on the MADANI principles. 'Materialistic development alone is certainly not enough. In fact, it must be balanced with human values, social justice and human kindness,' said the Prime Minister. He emphasised that the development of infrastructure and public facilities should not be limited to mega projects like the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ). Instead, equal attention must be given to upgrading and enhancing essential services such as schools, hospitals, and transport networks. 'The people are not only promised hope, but also protected tangibly and continuously,' he said. The Prime Minister also emphasised that the strategy to increase the people's income would continue to be driven through economic structural reforms, the influx of high-quality investments and the strengthening of the technology and innovation ecosystem. He said every citizen should have the opportunity to progress, regardless of racial or cultural background. – Bernama anwar ibrahim development lead unity
