Kuala Lumpur, May 27 (AP) A significant summit was held on Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur, featuring a three-way meeting between Southeast Asian nations, China, and six countries from the Persian Gulf. The aim was to expand economic collaboration and build resilience amid the challenging global trade climate exacerbated by US tariff increments.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, during his opening statements, asserted that this inaugural summit marks a new era of dialogue and cooperation. The event brought together the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China, collectively boasting a combined GDP nearing $25 billion and a market that exceeds 2 billion people, thus creating a plethora of opportunities to link markets and promote cross-regional investment.
“I am confident that ASEAN, the GCC, and China can draw upon our unique attributes and shape a future that is more connected, more resilient, and more prosperous,” Anwar expressed to the summit attendees, which included Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Li highlighted that this trilateral cooperation would yield benefits for all parties, aiding economic progress and regional peace. China, ASEAN's top trading partner, aims to position itself as a dependable ally amid its competitive stance against the U.S. The GCC remains crucial, supplying over a third of China's crude oil imports.
“China will join ASEAN and the GCC in forging synergies that multiply rather than simply augment our own strength,” Li stated.
Presently chaired by Malaysia, ASEAN also comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In an earlier forum on Tuesday, Anwar emphasized that the ASEAN-GCC partnership is crucial for navigating an increasingly complex world marked by economic uncertainties and geopolitical challenges.
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah expressed that the two blocs, having had their first summit in Riyadh in 2023, are poised to deepen their cooperation and “improve our ability to face crisis.” Notably, the GCC is ASEAN's seventh-largest trade partner, with total trade hitting $130.7 billion in 2023.
The GCC, composed of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, holds robust connections with the U.S. while seeking to foster close ties with China as well. Though ASEAN maintains a neutral stance, engaging with both Beijing and Washington, the Trump administration's tariff threats significantly impacted member nations, with some enduring tariffs ranging from 32% to 49%.
In April, President Trump announced a 90-day tariff pause for most countries and made a similar agreement with China this month, alleviating trade tensions. ASEAN seeks further dialogue with Trump regarding tariffs while expanding trade with China and other nations.
Collins Chong Yew Keat, an expert in foreign affairs, strategy, and security from Universiti Malaya, remarked that the ASEAN-GCC-China summit illustrates China's strategy to fortify support amid its trade conflict with the U.S. It follows Trump's diplomatic efforts in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE.
Chong pointed out ASEAN's perceived tilt towards China, noting its lack of decisive action against China's South China Sea actions despite overlapping territorial claims by ASEAN members like Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.
ASEAN, reliant on U.S. defense support, is concurrently enhancing its cooperation with China and other U.S. rivals, Chong commented. “If this continues under the current Trump administration, it will create further room for Washington to distance itself from the region, which will spell disaster and create an even deeper Chinese presence,” he warned. (AP) NSA NSA
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