ASEAN opens summit with Persian Gulf nations, China

Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (centre) speaks at the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur, on Tuesday. Pic/AFP

A regional association of Southeast Asian nations held a three-way summit on Tuesday with China and six Persian Gulf countries in efforts to expand economic engagement and bolster resilience as they grapple with a volatile global trading system due to US tariff hikes. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the inaugural summit in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur would open up a new chapter of dialogue and cooperation.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China collectively have a combined GDP of nearly USD 25 billion and a market of over 2 billion people, offering vast opportunities to synergise their markets and promote cross-regional investment, he said. "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," he told the summit, attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Li said the three-way cooperation would benefit all sides, contributing to economic development and peace in the region. China is ASEAN's top trading partner, and has sought to present itself as a reliable ally to the region amid its rivalry with the US. The GCC supplies over a third of China's crude oil imports.

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