Doha, May (QNA) - All eyes are turning to the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, where the much-anticipated summit between the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the participation of China, will be held on May 26 and 27.

The summit is taking place amid high hopes that this trilateral gathering will contribute to enhancing and expanding cooperation between these groups, exploring new opportunities, and advancing their existing partnership to a strategic level.

The summit aims to strengthen strategic relations between the Gulf countries, ASEAN, and China, including economic and regional cooperation, as well as other issues that serve their mutual interests.

It is worth noting that the Saudi capital, Riyadh, hosted the first summit between the GCC and ASEAN in 2023. At the conclusion of that summit, a joint statement was issued in which the leaders welcomed the accession of all GCC states to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation with ASEAN.

In this context, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, recently met with the Chinese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Chang Hua to discuss the final preparations for the upcoming trilateral summit, which will be hosted by the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, on May 26 and 27.

They also reviewed the latest developments in the ongoing free trade negotiations between the GCC and China.

The summit is being held amid highly complex international circumstances, as the world witnesses rapid changes, escalating tensions, and the emergence of various blocs and alliances.

These conditions necessitate that the participating groups unify their visions and goals and coordinate their positions to achieve common aspirations on political, economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, and technological fronts.

Strengthening and developing cooperation and relations - whether collectively or bilaterally - will help realize these shared objectives, which in turn gives the summit growing momentum and heightened significance.

From this standpoint, it is in the interest of the participating parties - especially amid ongoing international geopolitical shifts - to seize the opportunity to deepen their partnerships and exchange knowledge, expertise, and experiences.

This exchange should not be limited to economic and investment aspects, but should also include political, security, and cultural dimensions. In a world that recognizes only strength and the logic of power when facing challenges and confronting threats, building and safeguarding interests requires a united and forceful approach.

Given the current sensitive global circumstances, the summit holds great significance. It represents a timely opportunity to discuss both multilateral and bilateral cooperation in all its forms and dimensions.

It also provides a platform to formulate a unified vision in dealing with the outside world - engaging as equals and from a position of strength - while focusing on mutual interests that govern relations between nations and blocs.

This is further reinforced by the geographic proximity and deep social and cultural interconnections among the citizens of the participating countries.

A Qatari economic expert, Dr. Abdullah Al Khater, believes that the significance of the summit stems from the fact that it brings together leaders of countries that carry substantial weight on both regional and international levels.

This, he says, necessitates consultation among them in order to engage effectively with the international community and to positively influence global developments and challenges through full coordination and alignment.

He pointed out that each party will work to clarify its perspective on global transformations, including the Arab and Islamic viewpoints, which the Gulf group intends to convey directly to the participating blocs.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Khater emphasized that key areas such as politics, economy, trade, investment, and culture are typically featured in such summits.

This enhances their importance as platforms for supporting growth, building broad partnerships, and establishing the necessary balances in these vital sectors.

Regarding China's participation in the summit with the GCC and ASEAN, the Qatari economic expert stressed that China's involvement is of great importance in such gatherings, given its significant global weight and influence.

He described China as a pivotal player on the international stage, especially in light of the current global landscape marked by trade wars and volatility in energy markets.

He noted that everyone will benefit from this historic summit through the exchange of ideas, perspectives, understandings, and agreements that will be reached - driven by a shared desire and mutual commitment to achieve common goals and interests that serve the people.

Dr. Kheir Diabat from the Department of International Affairs at Qatar University stated in a similar comment to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the importance of this summit lies in its role in translating frameworks of cooperation among the participating parties into action.

He pointed to the outcomes of the first summit between the GCC and ASEAN for the years 2024-2028, which included cooperation in areas such as political and security dialogue, as well as trade and investment, through enhanced economic collaboration between the two regions.

He noted that the summit will feature serious discussions on a potential free trade agreement between the GCC and ASEAN blocs, given the growing mutual interests between them.

 He added that, as part of its "Pivot to the East" economic strategy, the Gulf Cooperation Council is seeking to increase its share in Asian markets and benefit from the technological advancements of those countries - steps that would reduce reliance on the West and open up new investment horizons, in line with the GCC's efforts to modernize their economies and diversify income sources.

Dr. Dhiabat further predicted that ASEAN countries, in turn, will aim to secure oil and gas supplies from the Gulf states and attract Gulf capital to their markets, which would result in numerous economic benefits for them.

"This cooperation, in my view, offers a valuable opportunity to explore a joint regional economic space and provides unprecedented prospects for economic development for all parties," he added.

Given the deep historical ties between the GCC countries, ASEAN member states, and China, continued consultation, communication, and regular meetings among leaders are essential.

These interactions are key to unifying visions on shared concerns at the bilateral, regional, and international levels. Additionally, it is important for the GCC and ASEAN to review what has been achieved and agreed upon since their first summit hosted by Saudi Arabia in October 2023.

There is no doubt that the GCC, ASEAN, and China each represent significant regional powers. At this critical time in global affairs, together they form a formidable force that cannot be overlooked.

They are strong competitors on the international stage, especially in a world where other alliances often pursue their interests by any means necessary - even at the expense of others. This dynamic further underscores the added importance of the summit.

The summit is also important as it provides an opportunity for leaders to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, to explore ways to elevate and grow the partnership, and to leverage the available growth opportunities through interregional cooperation to achieve sustainable development.

It will also serve as a platform for launching joint initiatives and discussing matters related to peace, security, stability, and prosperity, including reaffirming the importance of resolving disputes through peaceful means.

Furthermore, the summit will support coordination in addressing challenges and exploring opportunities to implement high-priority economic projects and partnerships - especially given the positive contributions of Southeast Asian labor forces to sustainable economic growth and development in the Gulf region.

At this particular time, the summit also plays a crucial role in strengthening the international standing of the participating blocs as strategic global actors. This serves their interests, both within the United Nations and in international forums more broadly, making them a source of strength across all domains of international engagement.

Considering today's volatile international climate and the global conflicts unfolding, it is imperative for the groups and countries participating in the summit to work together with a unified and wise vision in response to the developments of the era. This requires opening new horizons and creating mechanisms to launch innovative initiatives for long-term strategic cooperation and integration.

The Director of the Economic Studies Unit at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, Dr. Hazem Al Rahahleh described the economic cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China as a promising strategic opportunity to strengthen regional economic integration and build sustainable partnerships based on mutual interests.

In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), Dr. Al Rahahleh emphasized that, given the rapid transformations in the global economy, the intensifying geopolitical tensions, and the escalation of trade wars, the summit holds significant importance. These developments, he explained, compel regional blocs to reshape their trade and investment relations on more balanced and stable foundations.

He noted that for GCC countries, ASEAN represents a promising investment environment for sovereign wealth funds due to its large and active markets and its thriving growth sectors such as technology, infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, and manufacturing industries.

This diversity and flexibility, enhance the region's attractiveness for long-term investments, contributing to the geographical diversification of Gulf investment portfolios and income sources, he added.

These opportunities also align with the long-term investment visions of Gulf sovereign funds, enabling the establishment of partnerships that go beyond financial returns to include cooperation in innovation, knowledge transfer, and industrial localization, he noted.

Dr. Al Rahahleh further stated that the partnership with GCC countries offers strategic opportunities for ASEAN states in return - particularly in areas such as energy security, attracting capital, and expanding cooperation in promising sectors like the digital economy and food security.

"This cooperation," he said, "marks a qualitative step toward building a solid institutional relationship that strengthens the resilience of countries in both blocs against global economic fluctuations. It opens the door to mutual benefits and joint initiatives that serve the strategic and developmental goals of both parties."

He also pointed out that developing ties across multiple sectors among participants in the trilateral summit will deepen their relations and create new spaces for cooperation and partnerships. This, in turn, contributes to building a more stable and secure world and enhances international efforts for sustainable development and the well-being of peoples.

He concluded by saying that all of this, underscores the vital importance of the summit in cementing joint action to confront challenges, safeguard the interests of their peoples, and fulfill their aspirations for development, prosperity, and peace. (QNA)