ASEAN-GCC-China Summit Crucial Platform For Strategic, Economic Ties

By Noor Bakhtiar Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 (Bernama) -- The inaugural ASEAN–GCC–China Summit in Kuala Lumpur arrives at a defining moment, offering ASEAN a rare opportunity to reaffirm its global diplomatic clout and position itself as a vital bridge between the Gulf and China amid rising geopolitical tensions, analysts say.

Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) Chief Executive Officer Danial Rahman said the May 27 summit comes amid intensifying geopolitical competition and increased US engagement with GCC states, presenting ASEAN with a crucial opportunity to position itself as a neutral and inclusive convenor in a multipolar world.

“First, it’s a chance for ASEAN to reaffirm its role as a central convenor in a contested multipolar landscape.

“Secondly, to position itself as a practical bridge between the Gulf and China to promote cooperation; and thirdly, to push for concrete, multi-country projects that deliver real value in trade, energy and digital cooperation,” he told Bernama.

Echoing these views, regional expert Dr Nadia Helmy said that as Gulf countries race to expand their investments in the region, Malaysia - as ASEAN Chair this year - is well-positioned to steer the summit towards deeper strategic and economic partnerships.

“The GCC countries are actively investing in ASEAN,” she said, citing the example of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation’s foray into the Southeast Asian market through a joint oil refinery project in Vietnam and a collaboration with Indonesia’s Pertamina to develop a refinery complex in East Java.

She cited another example, in which Saudi Aramco in 2017 committed US$7 billion to a partnership with Petronas in Malaysia, the company’s largest investment outside the Kingdom.

Nadia, who is a professor of political science at Beni Suef University and an Egyptian expert in Chinese and Asian affairs, said that the cooperation between the GCC and ASEAN is essential to maximise the benefits of development across economic, commercial and technological fields.

“Joint foreign investments between the GCC and ASEAN must be increased, alongside greater benefits from technology transfer and localisation, to build an economy that does not rely solely on energy,” she said.

Established in Riyadh in 1981, the Gulf bloc GCC comprises six member states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya sociopolitical analyst Datuk Professor Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the summit should also explore underdeveloped areas of soft power such as cultural diplomacy, ethical governance, and youth engagement.

“ASEAN and the GCC share deep-rooted Islamic civilisational ties, with centuries of trade, scholarship and religious exchange.

“Reviving these linkages through cultural festivals, Islamic arts initiatives and shared heritage projects such as recognising the Hadhrami influence in Southeast Asia could build stronger people-to-people relations,” he said.

He said Malaysia’s concept of Islam MADANI could serve as a framework for promoting moderation and coexistence in the Muslim world.

“Despite differences in political systems, both ASEAN and GCC countries face similar pressures for reform, transparency, and good governance.

“Malaysia can help ASEAN emerge as a platform for sharing development models that balance modernity with ethical and religious values - crucial for countering extremism and building societal trust,” he said.

--BERNAMA