LETTER | On May 27, Kuala Lumpur became the epicentre of a historic diplomatic convergence as the leaders of Asean, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the People’s Republic of China gathered for the first-ever Asean-GCC-China Summit.

This unprecedented trilateral engagement, held under the chairmanship of Malaysia, marked a milestone in international diplomacy, economic cooperation and strategic alignment among three of the world’s most dynamic regions.

The summit was more than a mere multilateral meeting. It symbolised the coming together of regions connected by centuries of trade, civilisation, and cooperation from the ancient Silk Road and the maritime powerhouses of Melaka to the energy corridors of the Gulf and the technological advances of modern China.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, as host and chair, reflected this spirit by emphasising the deep historical linkages and shared aspirations that bind these blocs together.

Anwar described the summit as a “new chapter in Asean’s journey of outward-looking engagement,” underscoring the trilateral potential of a combined population exceeding 2.15 billion and a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$24.87 trillion. He stressed that such a scale presents immense opportunities to synergise markets, deepen innovation, and foster cross-regional investments.

Global dynamics

The 2025 summit took place against a backdrop of shifting global dynamics, notably the rise in U.S. protectionism under President Donald Trump’s second term. As the United States imposed new rounds of tariffs on Asean exports - reaching up to 49 percent for some member states - there was a clear impetus for regional blocs to assert strategic autonomy.

The Asean-GCC-China alignment thus appeared not as a defiance of global order, but as a recalibration of priorities towards multipolarity, cooperation and balanced engagement.

While Anwar was careful to reiterate that the US remains an important trade partner, he also reaffirmed Asean’s intention to maintain a policy of “constructive, balanced engagement” with all major powers. This was echoed in the summit’s joint statement, which pledged to uphold international law, multilateralism and mutual respect.

The summit produced a far-reaching Joint Statement, outlining commitments in six primary domains: economic integration, energy and sustainability, digital transformation, food and agriculture, connectivity and people-to-people exchanges. These areas form the backbone of what the leaders termed a “unified and collective path toward a peaceful, prosperous, and just future.”

The summit reaffirmed the centrality of trade as the cornerstone of trilateral relations. Leaders committed to finalising and signing the Asean-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) 3.0 Upgrade and looked forward to the early conclusion of the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement.

Furthermore, they proposed the establishment of a trilateral regional business council to facilitate dialogue between companies across the three regions, with a special focus on digital trade, fintech, supply chains and empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

There was also a strong push for de-dollarisation strategies, with an emphasis on local currency usage and cross-border payment systems to shield regional trade from external volatility.

Infrastructure development was positioned as both an economic and symbolic enabler of regional unity. The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was endorsed as a platform to enhance seamless regional connectivity, particularly through digital infrastructure, maritime security cooperation and the development of logistics corridors.

These initiatives are expected to diversify economic access and deepen inter-regional trade links between the Asean archipelago, the Gulf and mainland China.

On energy

Energy featured prominently, reflecting the Gulf's strength as an energy powerhouse and China’s and Asean’s increasing drive toward clean energy transitions. The summit participants agreed to collaborate on an inclusive, affordable energy transition aligned with the Paris Agreement.

Joint efforts will focus on clean hydrogen, low-carbon ammonia, carbon capture and nuclear energy guided by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards.

The parties also committed to strengthening energy market stability, investing in cross-border energy infrastructure such as LNG terminals and undersea power cables and promoting innovation in emerging green technologies.

The leaders acknowledged digital innovation as a strategic priority. There was consensus on exploring cross-regional frameworks for cooperation in digital trade, fintech, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, blockchain and smart city development.

To ensure inclusivity in the digital age, the summit endorsed skills development, digital literacy programs, and inclusive platform work protections.

Food security was highlighted as an urgent issue, especially amid ongoing conflicts and supply chain disruptions. The leaders agreed to enhance sustainable agricultural practices, promote halal food trade through mutual recognition of standards and diversify food sources to strengthen regional nutrition and food resilience.

Cultural diplomacy was also a core theme. The summit committed to boosting educational exchange, scholarship programs, mutual tourism marketing, and cross-cultural initiatives through art, music and literature.

A special focus was placed on youth engagement and intercultural dialogue to build mutual trust and long-term friendship among the peoples of the three regions.

In addition to development priorities, the summit tackled pressing global humanitarian and security concerns. The plight of Palestinians was addressed comprehensively, with the leaders jointly condemning attacks on civilians in Gaza and calling for a durable ceasefire and full humanitarian access. The summit cited the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (July 19, 2024) and UN resolutions supporting the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.

Qatar’s mediation and China’s role in facilitating Palestinian unity through the Beijing Declaration (July 2024) were acknowledged and praised. The leaders also endorsed Saudi Arabia’s initiative to co-host a High-Level International Conference for Peace in Palestine with France in June 2025.

Myanmar crisis

In addressing the Myanmar crisis, the summit called for extending the ceasefire initiated after the March earthquake, although concerns were raised about the military regime’s sincerity. Nonetheless, Asean reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful solution through regional consensus and diplomacy.

Anwar delivered multiple keynotes during the summit and the accompanying Asean-GCC-China Economic Forum. He celebrated the event as a landmark demonstration of Asean’s capacity to convene and lead amidst complexity.

Anwar highlighted the rapid economic rise of the GCC, particularly in energy transition and AI development, and reaffirmed China as a vital partner for regional stability, justice, and development.

He praised the summit for achieving concrete consensus on governance, economic policy, and human rights advocacy, stating that this summit proves that open dialogue and collective spirit can overcome differences.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang echoed similar sentiments, emphasising China's readiness to align development strategies with Asean and GCC partners, and expressing optimism that trilateral synergies would multiply benefits across all regions.

GCC leaders, including Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah, stressed the importance of building resilient partnerships to withstand global crises, while advancing negotiations on a free trade area with Asean.

The summit concluded with a collective pledge to implement the joint statement through agreed mechanisms and to build on existing frameworks such as the Asean-GCC and Asean-China platforms. The leaders also looked ahead to future summits, including the Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Doha (October 2025) and the Palestine Peace Conference (June 2025).

In short, the Asean-GCC-China Summit represents a bold reimagining of global governance. It demonstrated that in a fragmented international order, regional blocs can lead with purpose, foster inclusivity and champion cooperation over conflict.

With Malaysia at the helm, the summit has set a precedent for strategic trilateralism that could shape Asia and the Middle East for decades to come.

NURUL AMELLYA AZHAR is a doctorate student in International Political Economy at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.