Li Qiang Calls For ASEAN-GCC-China To Harness Diversity As Driver Of Trilateral Partnership

By Chiang Hee Tze

KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 (Bernama) -- China’s Premier Li Qiang today underscored that while ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China follow distinct development paths, these differences should be regarded not as impediments but as complementary strengths that can enrich and strengthen trilateral cooperation.

In his opening remarks at the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit here, Li called for the three regions to transform their individual strengths into shared assets, tackle common development challenges, and pursue complementary resources for mutual benefit.

“We must strive to turn our own factories into factories that belong to all, while assisting one another in overcoming new development challenges, pioneering innovative models of international industrial and economic cooperation, and promoting synergistic development where each contributes their strengths, maximises benefits, and shares the gains,” he said.

The Chinese Premier also expressed hope that the three regions would set a global example of cooperation across varying stages of development.

He reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening strategic alignment with ASEAN and the GCC, grounded in mutual respect and equality, while enhancing macroeconomic policy coordination and advancing industrial collaboration.

Li also urged the three regions to serve as a beacon of cross-civilizational integration, citing their rich and diverse cultural heritage, and to jointly champion the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusiveness.

“We must deepen people-to-people exchanges, lay a solid foundation for rejuvenation, effectively manage differences through mutual understanding, foster mutually beneficial cooperation through intellectual engagement, and explore a new path of inclusive progress among different civilisations,” he said.

Li also voiced strong support for Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s initiative, pledging China’s readiness to work with ASEAN and the GCC to implement the Global Civilisation Initiative, thereby fostering greater consensus and momentum for peaceful development.

“(China) President Xi Jinping has pointed out that emerging from the fog into the light requires a united effort, and the most effective approach is collaborative synergy.

“China is committed to joining hands with ASEAN and the GCC to fully realise the ‘1+1+1 greater than 3’ effect, injecting powerful impetus into the shared development and prosperity of the three regions,” he added.

-- BERNAMA