His Highness Sayyid Asaad leads Oman's delegation to the GCC–ASEAN Summit

On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, His Highness Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Special Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, led Oman's delegation to the GCC–ASEAN Summit, in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur.

Leading the welcoming reception upon his arrival at the summit venue was Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

In his opening remarks at the summit, the Malaysian Prime Minister affirmed that the gathering reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the close ties between the two sides. He noted that the growing investments between them demonstrate mutual trust.

He stated that the relationship between ASEAN countries and the Gulf Cooperation Council would be key to enhancing interregional cooperation, fostering resilience, and ensuring sustainable prosperity. He said he hoped for a fruitful exchange of views that would pave the way for tangible initiatives within an evolving and enduring partnership.

Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, delivered a speech in which he stated that the inaugural summit held in Riyadh marked a successful starting point for shaping a comprehensive framework of cooperation.

He emphasised the importance of building on this momentum by relying on the 2024–2028 Strategic Cooperation Framework as a roadmap to establish institutional structures for the partnership and translate them into practical tools capable of achieving the desired progress.

He underscored the importance of this partnership, noting that together the two blocs represent a vast economic and human force. The combined GDP of the 16 countries stands at nearly USD 6 trillion, and their populations total around 740 million people. They are connected by some of the world's most vital maritime and trade routes, granting their cooperation a geopolitical and strategic significance with direct implications for regional stability and global economic growth.

He noted that the Gulf Cooperation Council ranked as ASEAN’s seventh-largest trading partner in 2023, with total trade reaching USD 130.7 billion. This figure is expected to grow by an average of 30 percent to reach USD 180 billion by 2032.

He explained that the scale of opportunities available for investment between the two sides is immense, and the achievements so far confirm that the path being pursued is the right one. Trade in goods between the GCC and ASEAN exceeded USD 122 billion in 2023.

He added that there has been a consistent rise in Gulf investments in Asian markets, reflecting mutual trust and growing economic integration, and highlighting the potential to further expand these figures through stimulating economic policies.

He stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, and technology. He expressed hope for positive outcomes in the ongoing discussions on a free trade agreement between the two sides, which would help unlock greater investment opportunities and support regional supply chains, in addition to boosting cooperation on energy security and climate change.

The summit discussed key topics, including enhancing the economic partnership between the GCC and ASEAN, cooperation in food and energy security and climate change, as well as advancing cooperation in technology, education, and culture.

The summit aims to deepen strategic cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN member states in the areas of economy, investment, politics, and culture, and to review issues and developments of shared interest among all participating countries.

This is an unofficial English version of an Arabic report. To view the official Arabic text, click here.