ASEAN Holds Landmark Summit with China, Gulf States Amid Global Trade Tensions

Southeast Asian nations convened their first-ever joint summit with China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday, marking a strategic effort to reinforce economic partnerships amid rising global trade tensions and U.S. tariff threats, Al Jazeera reports.

The meeting, held in Malaysia’s capital on the second day of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, brings together leaders from the 10-member bloc, China, and the six GCC states — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who chairs this year’s ASEAN summit, opened the trilateral meeting by stressing the urgency of stronger cooperation between the regions.

“I believe the ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today, as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges,” Anwar said.

He noted that the global trading system is under severe pressure, citing the recent wave of U.S. tariffs and what he described as the unraveling of multilateral frameworks.

The summit follows a spate of U.S. protectionist moves, including unilateral tariffs introduced under former President Donald Trump. These duties hit six ASEAN members particularly hard, with tariff rates ranging from 32 to 49 percent. Although Trump recently paused most tariffs for 90 days and reached a temporary easing agreement with China, uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on trade-dependent economies in the region.

China’s Premier Li Qiang, who arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, held bilateral talks with Anwar before joining the summit. He called for expanded trade and investment ties between Beijing, ASEAN, and the GCC.

China has faced the brunt of U.S. tariffs and is seeking to deepen economic ties with alternative partners. Li’s participation is seen as both timely and strategic.

The summit also reflects a growing desire among ASEAN nations to reduce reliance on major Western markets and diversify economic relationships.

The Gulf nations also signaled strong interest in the partnership, sending high-level delegations, including Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, crown princes from Kuwait and Bahrain, and Oman’s deputy prime minister.