Kuala Lumpur: The Second ASEAN-GCC Summit, along with the inaugural trilateral summit of ASEAN, GCC, and China, commenced in Kuala Lumpur as part of the 46th ASEAN Summit. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's representative, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, is participating in these significant events.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), emphasized the robust strategic partnership with ASEAN countries and China. He stated that the GCC aims to spotlight the challenges faced by the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, prioritizing it during the council's participation. Al-Budaiwi highlighted the close coordination on political, economic, and security matters, expressing hope for historical agreements that reflect the strength of ASEAN-GCC-Chinese relations.
A statement from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's office disclosed that the summits aim to enhance joint commerce, investments, and sustainable development, aligning with ASEAN countries' ambitions for a leadership role in the geo-economic sphere of the Indo-Pacific region. The statement reiterated ASEAN's role in reshaping cooperation to match the realities of a multipolar world, noting that the side summits of the GCC-ASEAN and the ASEAN-GCC-China underscore strong regional solidarity with significant regional and international implications.
The summits also highlighted the Kuala Lumpur declaration on ASEAN 2045 "Our Shared Future" and the signing of a renewable energy accord between companies from Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam. The ASEAN-GCC summit successfully initiated negotiations for a free trade agreement. The statement confirmed the scheduling of more Southeastern Asian-centric summits on the sidelines of the event, as Malaysia seeks to enhance its leadership role in ASEAN, fostering regional and international partnerships during its ASEAN presidency in 2025.
The 46th ASEAN Summit is set to conclude with a press conference by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, followed by an official dinner banquet within the ASEAN-GCC-China economic forum.