The first-ever summit between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China was held on May 27, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Leaders from all 10 ASEAN countries, six GCC states—Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman—and China gathered to strengthen cooperation in energy, trade, and investment.
With a combined population of over 2.1 billion people and an economic volume of $24.87 trillion annually, these regions represent a significant force in the global economy. Their foreign trade accounts for about 25% of global merchandise trade, highlighting the immense potential of their collaboration.
Each region brings unique strengths to the table. ASEAN is an emerging manufacturing hub with a vast consumer market of nearly 700 million people. The GCC countries are rich in energy resources and possess substantial sovereign wealth funds, aiming to diversify their economies. China, as the world’s second-largest economy, offers powerful industrial capacity, technological innovation, and efficient infrastructure.
The summit emphasized the importance of leveraging these strengths to facilitate market integration, technological innovation, and cross-regional trade and investment. In an increasingly fragmented world facing challenges to free trade, deepening partnerships among these regions is crucial for enhancing economic resilience and sustainable development.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the significance of this collaboration in his opening remarks, stating that it “will provide a huge space for market integration and cross-regional investment.” The summit concluded with the release of a Joint Statement on May 28, pledging to work together towards these goals.
While challenges such as economic slowdown, lack of diversification, and geopolitical competition remain, the leaders agreed that shaping an open and free cross-regional market requires joint efforts. The summit marks a concrete step towards a peaceful, prosperous, and collaborative future for all involved.
