Kuala Lumpur: On behalf of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, HH Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tarik Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs and Personal Representative of His Majesty the Sultan, headed the Sultanate of Oman’s delegation at the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, which commenced today in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. The summit’s opening featured addresses by heads of delegations, as HH Sayyid Asa’ad delivered a speech, during which he emphasized that the historical relations built on shared values, mutual interests, cooperation, and respect-reflected in the ancient Silk Road and the Belt and Road Initiative.
According to Oman News Agency, the full text of the speech highlighted the shared values and mutual interests that have historically united the nations involved, as well as the potential for driving positive change through collaboration. The combined population of the represented nations exceeds 2 billion people, with a GDP totaling $24 trillion, marking them as some of the world’s fastest-growing markets.
HH Sayyid Asa’ad pointed to the energy resources and workforce potential within this group, identifying significant opportunities for investment in solar, wind, and green hydrogen energy. These efforts aim to meet future energy demands and advance sustainable development, a shared aspiration among the nations. Strengthening partnerships in transportation, logistics, and financial technology was also stressed as a means to enrich trade, investment, and tourism opportunities.
Moreover, HH Sayyid Asa’ad underscored the importance of expanding and liberalizing trade between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China. He expressed optimism about the Middle East’s future and extended appreciation to ASEAN and China’s constructive roles in the region.
The speech also addressed the need for peace in the Middle East, urging the international community to take action against Israeli violence and support humanitarian aid to Gaza. HH Sayyid Asa’ad reiterated Oman’s support for a two-state solution to achieve a just and lasting peace.
Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, also emphasized the summit’s role in enhancing multilateral cooperation amid global challenges. He noted the strategic shift initiated by the 2022 GCC-China first Summit in Riyadh towards comprehensive collaboration.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang highlighted the importance of regional openness and the potential growth opportunities of a unified “trilateral market” that encompasses the GCC, ASEAN, and China, representing a significant portion of the global population and GDP. He endorsed Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim’s initiative to promote cultural understanding and global peace.
The summit’s agenda included reviewing joint action plans and cooperation strategies in various sectors such as renewable energy, technology, education, health, AI, and scientific innovation.