Leaders from Southeast Asia and the GCC gathered in Kuala Lumpur for the 2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit, marking a vibrant push toward enhanced regional ties. The summit set the stage for deeper cooperation across political-security, economic, and socio-cultural pillars, aiming to boost resilience amid today’s unpredictable global environment. 🌐🤝
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim opened the summit by emphasizing the partnership's significance. "I believe the ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today," he remarked. The leaders are working to transform shared visions into concrete actions that promise to anchor stability and drive future growth.
Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, also highlighted the enormous potential of the economic links between the groups. With the GCC already being ASEAN's 7th largest trading partner in 2023—boasting a trade volume of $130.7 billion—the prospects for expanding this figure to $180 billion by 2032 are truly exciting. 🚀
In addition to paving the way for a robust free trade agreement, the summit attendees discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in investment, technical fields, and critical sectors such as food security, renewable energy, and climate change adaptation. The dialogue also touched on how Southeast Asian countries agreed to approach U.S. trade tariffs collaboratively, ensuring that decisions benefit all ASEAN partners.
This dynamic meeting of minds not only reinforces inter-regional collaboration but also inspires a forward-looking vision for sustainable prosperity. As both regions step into a future full of challenges and opportunities, the spirit of unity and progress shines brightly.
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2nd ASEAN-GCC Summit boosts inter-regional ties, resilience building
cgtn.com
