Latest news with #trilateralSummit
Arab News
28-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
More than trade on the agenda at GCC-ASEAN-China summit
Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday hosted a historic trilateral summit between China, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Chinese Premier Li Qiang and heads of state and government from the GCC and ASEAN states gathered, for the first time, to establish a new platform for cooperation. The political gathering is being followed by two days of economic summitry, in which business leaders are discussing trade and investment opportunities. If the recommendations adopted at the summit are fully implemented, there will be important strategic repercussions, with China playing a greater geopolitical role. Judging by the wide-ranging discussions taking place over several days and the lengthy statement issued after Tuesday's summit, the ambitions of the new gathering are quite high, especially for the first meeting of such a diverse group. It is, of course, the height of irony that China, the US' chief rival and adversary, is joining two blocs considered to be close American partners. The new grouping is a colossus and China is the superpower in this constellation. The combined populations of the 18 countries at the meeting exceeds 2 billion, or 25 percent of humanity. Their aggregated gross domestic product is more than $24 trillion, close to 23 percent of the global economy. The potential for economies of scale and synergies between the countries is enormous. Some of that potential has already been realized. For example, China and ASEAN are the leading trading partners for each other. They signed a free trade agreement in 2002 and have recently wrapped up negotiations to update that deal. Last year, China-ASEAN two-way trade was worth close to $1 trillion, accounting for about 29 percent of ASEAN's total trade. Similarly, China is the GCC's top trading partner, accounting for more than 20 percent of GCC trade. It is the destination of more than 25 percent of GCC petrochemical exports. The ambitions of the new gathering are quite high, especially for the first meeting of such a diverse group Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg Trade, or the need to adapt to the US trade war, may have been the trigger for some participants to come to these events. They aim to coordinate a response to new American tariffs, which have affected all the countries in attendance, and explore how to mitigate their effects by increasing access to new markets. The new policy of economic nationalism adopted by the Trump administration is making it difficult to continue to trade with the US, as this grouping's products become less competitive due to high import tariffs. By expanding trade through this trilateral setup, they hope to expand in other markets. There are other objectives. One is to restore some certainty to world markets, which have been jittery since the US imposed its new tariffs. The global economic outlook is being revised downward as well, with many organizations predicting slower growth in the coming years. For GCC countries, this is bad news, because their products thrive when the global economy is growing and suffer during recessions or slowdowns. Another objective is to restore faith in the multilateral system. While the US has expressed skepticism about the World Trade Organization and the global trading system generally, Tuesday's summit sought to rebuild trust. Using reassuring language, it stressed the need to 'strengthen confidence in the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core to protect businesses, consumers worldwide and the livelihoods of people in our regions.' It also reaffirmed 'the central and indispensable role of the World Trade Organization at the core of the rules-based multilateral trading system, which provides a predictable, transparent, nondiscriminatory and open global trading system.' But the gathering is not only about economic cooperation. It is more strategic. The nine-page joint statement issued at the end of Tuesday's meeting covered a wide range of topics, including international and regional issues, proposals for three-way ASEAN-China-GCC energy security cooperation, fighting terrorism and coordinating foreign policy. For example, the summit adopted a fairly detailed and proactive set of recommendations on Gaza and the two-state solution. It is, of course, ironic that the US, which has played a singular role since the Second World War in advocating free trade and building the UN, the World Trade Organization and other fixtures of multilateralism, is now abandoning that system. On the other hand, developing countries, which in the past had their doubts, are now championing free trade. The participant sent thinly veiled messages to rogue states and countries flouting international law and norms Dr. Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg While the US is retreating from multilateralism, China appears to be embracing it. The Kuala Lumpur meeting stressed that idea more than once through the final communique and interventions by heads of state and government. They also sent thinly veiled messages to rogue states and countries flouting international law and norms. The summit urged the promotion of 'peace, security, stability and prosperity' through 'mutual respect' and 'adherence to international law, including the UN Charter,' which means 'good neighborliness' and respect for the independence, sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity of other states, as well as noninterference in their internal affairs. It also called for 'refraining from the use of force, or the threat of use of force, and the settlement of differences or disputes by peaceful means.' These words and phrases were meant to address conflicts and disputes around the world by advocating a rules-based system centered on the UN. Another historical irony is that it was the US that pushed for the establishment of ASEAN in 1967 to help stop the spread of communism, which had taken hold in China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. The organization played a critical role in containing the spread of communism and Chinese influence and deepened the US' presence in Southeast Asia. Today, however, ASEAN includes communist governments among its member states. And although the bloc was meant to check China's growing influence, they have now become each other's top trading partner. Although the three groups (the GCC, ASEAN and China) are equal in the new trilateral setup, China is effectively the senior partner because of its population, GDP, military power and permanent membership in the UN Security Council. While the new grouping will bring China closer to the ASEAN and GCC, two blocs that are very close to the US, it would be a mistake to think that Beijing will 'replace' the US as a security partner. What the ASEAN and GCC are doing is diversifying their strategic partnerships, while maintaining their close security partnership with the US. This diversification means that China may play a greater role in the security and stability of both the Gulf and Southeast Asia.
Arab News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's PM arrives in Azerbaijan for trilateral summit amid regional diplomacy following India standoff
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Azerbaijan on Tuesday as part of a regional diplomacy tour following a military standoff with India, where he will attend a trilateral summit with the Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents on trade, connectivity and strategic cooperation. The visit to Azerbaijan marks the third stop on Sharif's five-day diplomatic push, which began in Türkiye and continued in Iran. The tour follows a four-day military escalation earlier this month that saw Islamabad and New Delhi trade missile, drone and artillery strikes after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the incident in Kashmir, though Islamabad denied involvement and called for an international investigation. As the situation escalated, Türkiye and Azerbaijan expressed support for Pakistan, prompting Sharif to convey his gratitude to both countries. 'Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in the Azerbaijani city of Lachin to participate in the Pakistan-Türkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral summit,' Sharif's office announced in a statement. 'He will join Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the meeting and will also hold a bilateral discussion with President Aliyev,' it added. Sharif was received at Lachin airport by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Pakistan's Ambassador Qasim Mueenuddin and senior diplomatic staff. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. At the start of his regional visit, Sharif met Erdogan in Türkiye and thanked him for Ankara's strong backing during the recent military conflict with India. The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in defense production, energy, IT and infrastructure. They also agreed to pursue a bilateral trade target of $5 billion, building on commitments made during the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Islamabad earlier this year. Sharif also visited Tehran, where he held meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He offered peace talks to India on contentious issues including Kashmir, water-sharing and counterterrorism, pointing out Pakistan was 'serious' about resolving long-standing disputes with its nuclear neighbor. The Iranian leadership welcomed Pakistan's approach, affirming Tehran's support for peaceful dialogue and regional security. Pakistan and Azerbaijan have in recent years strengthened ties through defense and energy cooperation and Baku has supported Islamabad's position on Kashmir in international forums. Islamabad has offered Azerbaijan access to its seaports to facilitate trade with global markets and has promoted regional connectivity initiatives linking Central Asia to South Asia. The trilateral summit in Lachin is expected to further strengthen ties among the three Muslim-majority countries.
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Anwar: Asean-GCC-China Summit a new era for regional economic ties
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The inaugural trilateral summit between Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China marks a new chapter of strategic cooperation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In his welcoming address at a gala dinner hosted in honour of Asean leaders last night, Anwar highlighted the GCC's remarkable transformation, describing it as 'the most peaceful and fastest-growing economy in the world', driven by new technology and artificial intelligence. He also stressed that Asean regards China as a valued friend, adding that despite complex geopolitical realities, the region remains committed to constructive engagement. 'This is a meeting of minds, people who want to develop their countries, who believe in independence, in rights, in democracy and who want to enhance trade, increase investments,' he said. Anwar also expressed deep appreciation for the presence of the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Asean-GCC-China Summit, underscoring the significance of their participation as reflective of enduring friendship and trust among partners. 'This is not just a meeting of countries, but the support, the affection, the trust of Asean leaders are unrivalled and unique. 'To Premier Li Qiang, please be assured (that) Asean is here as a friend of China's, and this partnership must continue to be built on mutual trust,' he said. The Crown Prince of Kuwait is leading his country's delegation to the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit and the Asean-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow. The Crown Prince is representing the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, at these high-level meetings which coincide with the ongoing 46th Asean Summit hosted by Malaysia. This year marks Malaysia's fifth term as Asean Chair, having previously held the chairmanship in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015. — Bernama
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
What brand of Malaysian hospitality will shape Asean and related summits — Phar Kim Beng
MAY 21 — As Malaysia assumes the Asean Chairmanship from May 25-27, 2025, global attention turns to Kuala Lumpur—not only for its event management and diplomatic flair but also for the deeper, distinct leadership it brings. This is a form of civilizational diplomacy rooted in moderation, inclusion, and resilience, transcending ceremonial handshakes and protocol dinners. This leadership stems from Malaysia's political experimentation, aspirations to bridge East and West, and resilience amid global volatility. The Unity Government's stability as a message Few believed Malaysia's Unity Government, led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, would endure when it was formed on November 24, 2022. Seen as a temporary coalition of former rivals, it faced doubts about its longevity. Nearly three years later, the government has not only survived but has become a credible custodian of Malaysia's external diplomacy and regional vision. In Asean, where political instability is common, Malaysia's internal political stability is a significant asset. It demonstrates that compromise, dialogue, and institutional reform can create a durable foundation, enabling Malaysia to chair Asean with confidence. A bold vision for the Asean Chairmanship Malaysia's chairmanship is marked by strategic initiatives, including a trilateral economic summit involving Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China. This summit, the first of its kind, represents a groundbreaking dialogue among three civilizational zones. It is not just about trade but a geopolitical statement challenging traditional East-West and North-South divides. Malaysia is anchoring the summit within the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) framework, envisioning a strategic corridor connecting the Gulf's resources, China's technology, and Asean's labor markets. This forward-looking agenda aims for a just transition to a low-carbon economy, redefining Asean regionalism to focus on sustainability and innovation. Leadership through bridge-building Under Anwar's leadership, Malaysia emphasizes bridge-building over bloc alliances. This philosophy is not just diplomatic—it is strategic. In an era of climate crises, food instability, and global fragmentation, hybrid platforms for cooperation are vital. Malaysia's approach to ASEAN's leadership sets a new standard by fostering pathways for dialogue and development. Malaysia's Asean chairmanship is marked by strategic initiatives, including a trilateral economic summit involving Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China. — Bernama pic Challenges from domestic disengagement Despite these strides, Malaysia's political opposition remains disengaged from international affairs, focusing instead on narrow domestic concerns. This lack of alternative vision for navigating global challenges is a missed opportunity to shape Malaysia's foreign policy. The government, meanwhile, has actively proposed regional financial mechanisms, supported civilizational dialogues, and revitalized Asean cooperation. Its leadership sees Malaysia as an architect of regional order rather than a passive participant. Malaysia's stewardship of Asean The first half of 2025 may mark a turning point for Asean—not by replacing its consensus model but by revitalizing it. Through Malaysia's leadership, Asean has the chance to address pressing questions on sustainability, sovereignty, and shared destiny. If Asean can rise to these challenges, Malaysia's chairmanship will have demonstrated the power of strategic hospitality—a diplomacy rooted in listening, building, and stewardship. This may well prove to be Malaysia's most valuable export, setting a benchmark for Asean's future. * Phar Kim Beng, PhD, is a Professor of Asean Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia and a Visiting Faculty member at the Asia-Europe Institute, University of Malaya. ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
