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The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
The Gulf and South-East Asia show civilisations can work together, despite their differences
The second summit between the Association of South-East Asian Nations and the Gulf Co-operation Council wound up in Kuala Lumpur around lunchtime on Tuesday. In the afternoon, the regional groupings were joined by China, for the first ever Asean-GCC-China trilateral. Did the gatherings constitute one of the 'most substantive' milestones in 10-nation Asean's history, as this year's chair, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, put it? Was the trilateral 'historic', as the Malaysian academic Phar Kim Beng argued last week, because 'it institutionalises symmetry among three civilisational spheres – maritime South-East Asia, the Islamic Gulf, and Confucian China'? Or was the Asean-GCC meeting a small and incremental step forward for two very different regional blocs, with the addition of an extra meeting with China that may turn out to have been a one-off? There may be elements of truth in all three statements. Mr Anwar made a confident case, saying he thought 'the Asean-GCC partnership has never been more vital than it is today'. He pointed to both region's centuries of history as trading hubs, mentioning that Oman and the Malaysian city of Malacca had both served as 'strategic crossroads that linked East and West, demonstrating the power of openness, exchange and strategic connectivity'. Kuwait's Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah, also called the partnership 'vital'. He said: 'Together our 16 nations represent immense economic and human potential, with a combined GDP nearing $6 trillion and a population of about 740 million.' The total trade volume between the two blocs stood at $131 billion in 2023, he added – a figure he expected to rise to $180 billion by 2026. 'The growth in GCC-Asean trade, along with rising Gulf investments in Asian markets, reflects mutual confidence and deepening economic integration.' Chinese Premier Li Qiang said that Beijing was 'willing to join hands with Asean and the GCC to fully harness the synergy of one plus one plus one being greater than three, and inject powerful momentum into the common development and prosperity of our three sides' and that 'differences are not obstacles to co-operation – rather, they present opportunities for complementarity'. Prof Phar Kim Beng's at-times rather poetic essay also pointed out that 'when senior officials discuss port interoperability, halal certification frameworks, or AI governance standards, they are doing more than negotiating terms – they are creating a shared civilisational grammar … China's Digital Silk Road, the GCC's green hydrogen corridors, and Asean's biodiversity-based value chains are not competing blueprints. They are complementary avenues for creating value – and values – across regions that refuse to be passive recipients of a waning Bretton Woods system'. There should be a kind of magic, even a touch of romantic idealism, about trying to bring these two regions (and China) closer There's no doubting that the sentiment between the leaders, ministers and officials in the meeting halls was warm and genuine. Timor-Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao – present because his country is expecting to join Asean later this year – spread the joy when he unexpectedly handed out chocolates to reporters waiting outside the ballroom at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre after the first of Tuesday's summits. 'Take it, you've waited so long,' he told them with a smile. The summits also concluded with a joint statement that underlined the commitments of Asean, the GCC and China to peace, stability, dialogue, development, mutual respect and co-operation, non-interference into the internal affairs of others, and to strengthening collaboration between the regions. But that doesn't mean that getting there was easy or that concrete results will automatically follow without much further work. Negotiations in the run-up to the summits were 'hard', I'm told by a senior official involved. There were substantial differences in style and process between the GCC and Asean – which is not surprising, considering how different their make-ups are. The GCC countries are all Arab Muslim and the amount they have in common may aid faster decision-making. Asean, on the other hand, is made up of states with so many different faiths and ethnicities that the region was once known as 'the Balkans of Asia'. The association is used to a very measured – critics would say laboured – way of reaching conclusions. I'm told that some on the GCC side were pushing for a mutual free trade agreement fast, whereas some Asean members were suggesting that the GCC should consider joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – a free trade agreement that includes all Asean countries, plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. 'And in any case,' one other official said to me, 'the Asean way is that we can't take a formal decision without doing a study first.' Differences in approach may have led to some misunderstandings. Some on the Asean side felt their GCC counterparts didn't always appreciate the advances some of their countries had made. On the other hand, perhaps because of its long and deep institutional relations with Beijing, there is a danger that Asean overestimates the extent to which it is needed as a 'bridge' between the Gulf and China – two parties that now know each other extremely well. This doesn't appear to be a problem at the top level. It is among the ranks of diplomats and sherpas on both sides that these issues must be worked through – for it is they who will need to put in the hard yards to turn warm words into economic mechanisms that benefit the peoples of both the Gulf and South-East Asia. It's not just a matter of material progress, and shared and equitable prosperity, important though both are. There should be a kind of magic, even a touch of romantic idealism, about trying to bring these two regions (and China) closer. And so, I will leave the last words to Prof Phar. The senior officials who were working to make the Kuala Lumpur summits a success were doing more than laying the groundwork for trade, he wrote. 'They are rewriting the rules of recognition. They are showing that in a fragmented world, civilisation can still speak to civilisation – not through weapons or treaties, but through standards, ports, and trust.'
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Chinese premier, GCC leaders leave Malaysia after groundbreaking Asean summits
SEPANG, May 29 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states' leaders and their delegations departed for home yesterday following the conclusion of the 2nd Asean-GCC Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur. Li and his delegation boarded a special flight at 9.15 am from the Bunga Raya Complex of Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). They were sent off by Transport Minister Anthony Loke. At around 10 am, the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, also left for home aboard a special aircraft. Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali was present to bid him farewell. Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs of Oman, Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, departed for home at 2.33 pm, sent off by Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Meanwhile, Timor-Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao left at 11.50 am aboard a special aircraft, and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was present to see him off. All the leaders were given a red carpet ceremonial send-off and a guard-of-honour mounted by 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Ranger Regiment (Ceremonial). Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in his opening remarks at the Asean-GCC Summit, described the gathering as exceptional in the context of Southeast Asia Anwar highlighted the presence of Asean leaders alongside representatives from the GCC countries as a testament to the growing mutual trust and friendship between the two blocs. The 46th Asean Summit was held on Monday under Malaysia's 2025 Asean Chairmanship theme 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', and it was followed by the 2nd Asean-GCC Summit and the inaugural Asean-GCC-China Summit. — Bernama
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
GCC, ASEAN to boost economic ties
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) agreed on Tuesday to boost bilateral ties at their second summit hosted in the Malaysian capital. GCC leaders agreed to continue furthering partnerships with ASEAN nations in the face of global challenges and attain common economic opportunities. 'We want to raise this figure to US$180bn by 2032 because there is huge potential that has yet to be explored in bilateral trade and investment,' said Sheikh Sabah Khaled al Hamad al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait. The total trade volume between the two blocs amounted to US$130.7bn in 2024. Sheikh Sabah stressed the importance of accelerating negotiations for a GCC–ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to unlock new investment opportunities and enhance regional supply chains. He also called for greater collaboration in energy security, climate action and technical fields. Key summit topics included economic cooperation, regional security, food and energy security, climate change and collaboration in education, technology and culture. In his opening remarks, Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia, expressed 'appreciation for the presence of all leaders, a strong signal of their shared resolve to strengthen ASEAN-GCC cooperation and to explore broader, forward-looking partnerships for the benefit of their peoples'. The ASEAN-GCC Framework of Cooperation 2024-2028, adopted at the inaugural summit in Riyadh in 2023, 'serves as our strategic roadmap to advance collaboration across political and security, economic and socio-cultural pillars', said Anwar. Oman's delegation was led by H H Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Special Representative of His Majesty the Sultan. Addressing the summit, H H Sayyid Asaad said permanent peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved unless Israel halts its policy of genocide against the Palestinian people. 'The international community, and all nations represented at this summit, must take urgent political, diplomatic and economic measures to end Israeli aggression and ensure the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.' © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait's Crown Prince highlights importance of GCC, ASEAN, China summit in building resilient partnership
Amir's Representative addresses Gaza's 'humanitarian catastrophe', affirms Palestine support KUALA LUMPUR: In a historic gathering marked by shared ambition and expanding ties, leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China convened, Sunday, in Kuala Lumpur for a trilateral summit aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation across key sectors. The summit was co-chaired by Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and China's Prime Minister Li Qiang. In his opening address, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait and expressed hope that the summit would mark a pivotal step in building a deeper, more resilient trilateral partnership. He extended sincere gratitude to the Malaysian government for its hospitality and excellent summit arrangements. "This is more than a diplomatic engagement, it is a clear expression of our collective recognition that today's world demands multilateral cooperation grounded in integration, sustainable development, and mutual respect," His Highness stated. He noted that the summit comes at a time of profound global shifts, economic uncertainty, and urgent environmental and geopolitical challenges. In this context, GCC-ASEAN and GCC-China relations have matured into robust partnerships rooted in mutual benefit, institutional collaboration, and long-term planning. His Highness highlighted previous milestones such as the first GCC-China Summit in Riyadh in 2022 and the inaugural GCC-ASEAN Summit in 2023, which laid the groundwork for today's trilateral cooperation. "This summit is a natural evolution of those efforts, a gateway to a new dynamic phase of collaboration between three of the world's most vibrant and economically vital regions," he said. He emphasized the importance of ongoing frameworks, including the Joint Action Plan for Strategic Dialogue with China (2023-2027) and the Strategic Cooperation Framework with ASEAN (2024-2028). These documents, he noted, provide comprehensive roadmaps for deepening cooperation in renewable energy, advanced technology, education, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and scientific research. His Highness pointed to strong economic indicators underscoring the vitality of these relationships, saying that in 2023 trade between the GCC and China reached approximately $298 billion. While foreign direct investment (FDI) flows between the two amounted to $19 billion and trade with ASEAN also exceeded $122 billion, he added that these figures reflect a "genuine momentum that deserves further expansion." He urged renewed efforts to finalize the Free Trade Agreement between the GCC and China, ease trade barriers, and expand investment also advocated for the strengthening of the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum as a platform for innovation and joint ventures in areas such as infrastructure, green energy, and the digital economy. "Our central place in the global economy, combined with our human and natural capital, places a shared responsibility on us to craft integrative policies that ensure food and water security, drive clean energy development, and support innovation and sustainability," he remarked. His Highness laid out five key pillars for deepened trilateral cooperation, including trade and investment integration, energy and food security, advanced technology and digital transformation, cultural, educational, and health cooperation, and a unified international stance. Turning to regional crises, His Highness addressed the "ongoing humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. He reaffirmed the GCC's support for the Palestinian cause and called for an end to the aggression, the protection of civilians, and the resumption of a genuine peace process based on international law and the Arab Peace Initiative."We deeply appreciate the positions taken by our friends in ASEAN and China in support of the Palestinian people," he said. On Syria, he welcomed recent positive developments and reiterated GCC support for efforts that uphold Syria's sovereignty and unity, aiming to restore stability and dignity to its people. Concluding his remarks, His Highness called for effective follow-up mechanisms to translate summit outcomes into concrete programs that benefit people and economies of all participating nations. "Let us ensure this summit is not merely a statement of intent, but a launchpad for tangible progress. Our partnership deserves nothing less than success and prosperity," he concluded. The trilateral summit was widely hailed as a landmark event with far-reaching implications for regional cooperation, economic growth, and political coordination across Asia and the Gulf. - KUNA
Arab Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait ignites GCC-ASEAN-China synergy
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27: In a historic gathering marked by shared ambition and expanding ties, leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China convened, Tuesday, in Kuala Lumpur for a trilateral summit aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation across key sectors. The summit was co-chaired by Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Premier of China Li Qiang In his opening address, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait and expressed hope that the summit would mark a pivotal step in building a deeper, more resilient trilateral partnership. He extended sincere gratitude to the Malaysian government for its hospitality and excellent summit arrangements. 'This is more than a diplomatic engagement, it is a clear expression of our collective recognition that today's world demands multilateral cooperation grounded in integration, sustainable development, and mutual respect,' His Highness stated. He noted that the summit comes at a time of profound global shifts, economic uncertainty, and urgent environmental and geopolitical challenges. In this context, GCC-ASEAN and GCC-China relations have matured into robust partnerships rooted in mutual benefit, institutional collaboration, and long-term planning. His Highness highlighted previous milestones such as the first GCCChina Summit in Riyadh in 2022 and the inaugural GCC-ASEAN Summit in 2023, which laid the groundwork for today's trilateral cooperation. 'This summit is a natural evolution of those efforts, a gateway to a new dynamic phase of collaboration between three of the world's most vibrant and economically vital regions,' he said. He emphasized the importance of ongoing frameworks, including the Joint Action Plan for Strategic Dialogue with China (2023-2027) and the Strategic Cooperation Framework with ASEAN (2024-2028). These documents, he noted, provide comprehensive roadmaps for deepening cooperation in renewable energy, advanced technology, education, healthcare, artificial intelligence, and scientific research. His Highness pointed to strong economic indicators underscoring the vitality of these relationships, saying that in 2023 trade between the GCC and China reached approximately USD 298 billion. While foreign direct investment (FDI) flows between the two amounted to USD 19 billion and trade with ASEAN also exceeded USD 122 billion, he added that these figures reflect a 'genuine momentum that deserves further expansion.' He urged renewed efforts to finalize the Free Trade Agreement between the GCC and China, ease trade barriers, and expand investment flows. He also advocated for the strengthening of the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Forum as a platform for innovation and joint ventures in areas such as infrastructure, green energy, and the digital economy. 'Our central place in the global economy, combined with our human and natural capital, places a shared responsibility on us to craft integrative policies that ensure food and water security, drive clean energy development, and support innovation and sustainability,' he remarked. His Highness laid out five key pillars for deepened trilateral cooperation, including trade and investment integration, energy and food security, advanced technology and digital transformation, cultural, educational, and health cooperation, and a unified international stance. Turning to regional crises, His Highness addressed the 'ongoing humanitarian catastrophe' in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. He reaffirmed the GCC's support for the Palestinian cause and called for an end to the aggression, the protection of civilians, and the resumption of a genuine peace process based on international law and the Arab Peace Initiative. 'We deeply appreciate the positions taken by our friends in ASEAN and China in support of the Palestinian people,' he said. On Syria, he welcomed recent positive developments and reiterated GCC support for efforts that uphold Syria's sovereignty and unity, aiming to restore stability and dignity to its people. Concluding his remarks, His Highness called for effective follow-up mechanisms to translate summit outcomes into concrete programs that benefit people and economies of all participating nations. 'Let us ensure this summit is not merely a statement of intent, but a launchpad for tangible progress. Our partnership deserves nothing less than success and prosperity,' he concluded. The trilateral summit was widely hailed as a landmark event with farreaching implications for regional cooperation, economic growth, and political coordination across Asia and the Gulf. Earlier, Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah underscored the urgent need for deeper regional and international collaboration to address pressing global challenges. The call was made during the opening of the second GCC-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, under the joint leadership of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim. His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al- Sabah is the current chair of GCC, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah delivered the summit's opening address, expressing warm greetings on behalf of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and extended sincere wishes for the summit's success in strengthening the growing partnership between the two regional blocs. In his remarks, the Crown Prince emphasized the global importance of the GCC and ASEAN, highlighting their combined economic strength, vast populations, and strategic locations, saying that the two regions account for a gross domestic product of nearly USD six trillion and a combined population of approximately 740 million. Recalling the inaugural GCC-ASEAN Summit held in Riyadh in October 2023, the Crown Prince described it as a pivotal moment for shaping a comprehensive partnership, and affirmed the commitment of the GCC to building upon this momentum through the '2024-2028 Strategic Cooperation Framework,' which outlines practical steps to establish cooperation and achieve tangible progress. The Crown Prince stressed that economic cooperation remains a top priority, and noted that in 2023, the GCC was ASEAN's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD 130.7 billion, and projected growth of 30 percent over the next decade to an expected USD 180 billion by 2032. He highlighted the opportunities for expanding trade, investments, and partnerships across sectors, including energy, technology, and sustainable development. On energy security and climate action, the Crown Prince lauded ASEAN's progress in renewable energy and reiterated the GCC's readiness to share expertise in clean energy, green hydrogen, and low-carbon technologies to support global climate goals, particularly the Paris Agreement. The Crown Prince also called for enhanced cooperation in food security, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, and proposed establishing mechanisms for knowledge exchange and joint projects, including infrastructure development and innovation in agriculture and supply chain resilience. In cultural and human exchange, the Crown Prince proposed designating 2026 as the 'Year of Cultural Convergence' between the GCC and ASEAN, including cultural festivals, exhibitions, and reciprocal events such as an ASEAN Day in a GCC country and a GCC Cultural Day in an ASEAN member state. He also advocated for initiatives empowering youth and women through training programs and entrepreneurship support. Turning to pressing regional and global issues, the Crown Prince reaffirmed the GCC's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. He called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities by ensuring the protection of civilians in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories and supporting a credible peace process based on international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and also welcomed ASEAN's solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Regarding Syria, the Crown Prince welcomed positive developments on the ground and reiterated the GCC's support for efforts to maintain Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, with the aim of restoring stability and opening pathways for development and prosperity. The Crown Prince also stressed that the success of the summit lies not only in the adoption of recommendations but in translating shared ambitions into actionable initiatives, and proposed establishing a high-level follow-up mechanism, co-managed by the GCC and ASEAN Secretariats, to monitor progress and ensure continued engagement. The Crown Prince extended an invitation to ASEAN nations to participate in Expo 2030, which will be hosted in Riyadh, as a global platform for showcasing sustainable partnerships, innovative technologies, and economic and cultural exchange.(KUNA)
