2nd ASEAN-GCC summit opens in Malaysia

The 2nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit was hosted on Tuesday in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim, in his opening remarks, "expressed appreciation for the presence of all leaders, a strong signal of their shared resolve to strengthen ASEAN-GCC cooperation and to explore broader, forward-looking partnerships for the benefit of their peoples," according to his Facebook post.

He said last year, the GCC ranked as ASEAN's seventh largest trading partner, with total trade amounting to $130.7 billion.

“Investment flows are rising, underscoring growing confidence in the long-term potential of our partnership,” the premier said.

The ASEAN-GCC Framework of Cooperation 2024–2028, which was adopted during the inaugural summit in Riyadh in 2023, "serves as our strategic roadmap to advance collaboration across political and security, economic and socio-cultural pillars," said Anwar.

Malaysia, as rotating chair of the ASEAN, hosted the summit after the regional bloc met for its two-day summit in the capital Kuala Lumpur.

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn and leaders from the association – Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet, Laos Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra – all attended the summit, according to Malaysia's state-run Bernama news agency.

Timor-Leste's Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao took part as an observer.

Officials from the GCC including Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah attended the summit.

Oman's Deputy Prime Minister Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Farhan and UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi also participated.