As part of the State of Qatar's commitment to participating in and engaging with international conferences and forums, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani will take part in the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, scheduled to commence Tuesday, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.The summit discussions are expected to cover a broad range of issues and topics of mutual interest, including economic, trade, and investment cooperation, and ways to increase trade exchange and investment flows between the two regions. It will also focus on strengthening cooperation in strategic sectors such as energy, food security, tourism, technology, financial services, and minerals, as well as exploring opportunities to deepen political dialogue and consultation on regional and international issues of common concern.The ASEAN-GCC Summit carries exceptional significance as it follows the success of the first summit hosted by Riyadh in October 2023, which marked the beginning of a new phase in relations between the two blocs. The summit is also taking place under Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN chairmanship, which has adopted the theme of "Inclusivity and Sustainability," reflecting its ambition to achieve genuine joint progress that ensures no one is left behind.The first ASEAN-GCC Summit was a major turning point in the trajectory of relations between the two blocs. It was the first of its kind at the level of heads of state and reflected the GCC's openness to partnerships with major economic blocs. The summit was a milestone in bilateral relations and resulted in the adoption of the Framework of Cooperation between the two sides for the period 2024-2028. This framework outlined the future areas of cooperation in various sectors, including political and security dialogue, trade and investment, and people-to-people exchanges.The joint statement issued following the Riyadh Summit welcomed the accession of all GCC countries to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) with ASEAN, based on shared interests and deep historical ties between the two sides.The statement also noted the participating leaders' call to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and to explore ways to elevate and develop the partnership in order to leverage growth opportunities available through cooperation between the two dynamic regions, in accordance with shared visions for the future of the partnership and the values enshrined in the UN Charter.It further called for consultations and exploration of cooperation in identified priority areas such as maritime collaboration, communications, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the economic field. The leaders urged the strengthening of ties between the two sides on multilateral and bilateral levels and in global forums by capitalizing on opportunities for sustainable development, peace, security, and stability. They also highlighted the importance of addressing global and regional risks and challenges to ensure the sustainability of supply chains, the interconnectivity of transportation and communications, and the enhancement of food, water, and energy security. In addition, they emphasized cooperation on sources and technologies for green and renewable energy, tourism infrastructure, business opportunities, and boosting trade and investment flows.The statement welcomed the Framework of Cooperation for 2024-2028, which outlines the joint measures and cooperation activities to be implemented between the two sides in mutually beneficial fields. These include political and security dialogue, trade and investment, people-to-people connectivity, education, culture, tourism, media, sports, and exploring avenues for cooperation in crime prevention and combating transnational and cybercrime, as well as counter-terrorism and extremism. The framework also seeks to enhance trade and investment flows, with a particular focus on sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy sources, petrochemicals, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, tourism, logistics, cities, connectivity, and digitalization.In addition to the ASEAN-GCC Summit, Malaysia is hosting this week the 46th ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN-GCC-China Economic Summit with the participation of state and government leaders and business sectors from three of the world's most dynamic and fastest-growing regions, Southeast Asia, the Gulf, and China. These regions collectively represent more than two billion consumers and account for over 20% of global GDP.ASEAN was established on Aug. 8, 1967, and comprises ten member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries joined ASEAN in different stages, starting with the five founding members in 1967 and concluding with Cambodia's accession in 1999. Indonesia is considered the bloc's main power due to its geographic size, population, and economic weight. The country played a key role in ASEAN's foundation and development and hosts the ASEAN Secretariat in its capital, Jakarta.The ASEAN Declaration stated that the association's primary goal is to promote cooperation among member states in economic, social, cultural, technical, and educational fields, in addition to promoting regional peace and stability through respect for justice, the rule of law, and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. It also emphasized fundamental principles such as respect for the independence and sovereignty of states, non-interference in internal affairs, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and refraining from involving external powers in regional conflicts.In 1997, ASEAN leaders adopted the "ASEAN Vision 2020," which outlined the association's long-term objectives and reaffirmed its commitment to regional integration. ASEAN's organizational structure includes the ASEAN Summit, which is its highest decision-making body. Composed of the heads of state or government of member states, the summit meets twice a year to set general policies, make decisions on major issues of concern, address emergencies affecting the bloc, and appoint the Secretary-General.The ASEAN Coordinating Council, made up of the foreign ministers of the member states, meets at least twice a year. Its responsibilities include coordinating the implementation of summit agreements and decisions, preparing for summit meetings, coordinating the work of various ministerial councils, and handling emerging issues affecting the bloc.Additionally, ASEAN includes various ministerial bodies specializing in economic, trade, security, cultural, social, agricultural, energy, environmental, health, education, labor, and tourism affairs.The ASEAN Secretary-General is the association's highest administrative official, appointed by the ASEAN Summit for a single, non-renewable five-year term, on a rotational basis among the member states. The ASEAN Secretariat acts as the permanent administrative body of the bloc and makes decisions based on consensus among all members, which means any single member can object to and block a decision.ASEAN respects the principle of non-interference in its members' internal affairs, meaning decisions do not pertain to domestic issues. ASEAN is also one of the world's largest trading partners, with its external trade exceeding USD 4 trillion in 2024, representing 8% of global trade in goods and services. Intra-ASEAN trade accounts for 48% of its total external trade.ASEAN is on track to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, rising from its current fifth position. In 2023, it attracted over USD 200 billion in foreign direct investment, making it the largest recipient of FDI among developing regions.It is one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world, with a total population of approximately 690 million. ASEAN's major trading partners include China, the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Strategically located on global trade routes, the region serves as a vital hub for trade and investment.It also possesses a wide range of natural resources, including oil, gas, minerals, forests, and marine wealth. Several of its countries, particularly Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, enjoy a strategic advantage in global trade due to their proximity to the Strait of Malacca, through which over a quarter of the world's maritime trade and 80% of Middle Eastern oil shipments to China and Japan pass
May 26, 2025 | 11:06 AM