The second summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was held in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, with the attendance of Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and several representatives of GCC states.
The summit was co-chaired by Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, representing the Amir of Kuwait and the current president of the GCC, and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the current president of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
In a post on the X platform, Qatar’s Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, stated: “Today, we held the second GCC-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur as part of strengthening the partnership with this vital Asian bloc.” He expressed his hope that “the summit’s outcomes will contribute to expanding the horizons of trade, economic, and political cooperation in a manner that serves the mutual interests of our peoples.”
In his opening address, the Crown Prince of Kuwait stated that the meeting brings together two influential entities on the international stage, each possessing significant geographical, human, and strategic assets, qualifying them to play a crucial role amid the complex global security challenges that necessitate new forms of cooperation and partnership.
He noted that the first Riyadh summit held between the two sides marked a successful starting point for outlining comprehensive cooperation, based on the strategic cooperation framework for 2024–2028.
He highlighted that this summit, convened at the leadership level, represents a fundamental milestone in the journey of enhancing cooperation between the two sides, expressing a renewed collective commitment to building a strategic partnership grounded in shared interests, rooted in the principles of international law, and promoting comprehensive and sustainable development for the peoples of both sides.
He stated that the combined gross domestic product of the GCC and ASEAN countries, totaling 16 nations, is approximately $6 trillion, while the population of these countries is around 740 million.
Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah pointed out that these countries possess some of the world’s most significant maritime and trade routes, giving their cooperation a geopolitical and strategic dimension with a direct impact on regional stability and global economic growth.
He added that the GCC countries “look forward to ASEAN’s participation in Expo 2030, which will be hosted by the Saudi capital, Riyadh, as a global opportunity to present a new model of sustainable partnerships, future technologies, and economic and cultural openness.”
In addition to Qatar’s Emir and Kuwait’s Crown Prince, the summit was attended by Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representing the King of Bahrain; Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, representing the UAE President; and Asaad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations, representing the Sultan of Oman.
