Malaysia Hosts Inaugural ASEAN-China-GCC Summit in May

Malaysia is set to host the inaugural summit involving the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), China, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in May, under the leadership of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This summit aims to enhance trade and investment ties among the participating nations, emphasizing Malaysia's role as a neutral ground amid rising geopolitical tensions. Anwar highlighted the importance of ASEAN expanding its global engagement beyond traditional partners to ensure its strategic relevance in a multipolar world. Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan also noted plans for a Special ASEAN-United States Summit, aiming to maintain ASEAN's neutrality while engaging with major powers. With the GCC comprising significant economies, this summit represents a strategic move to strengthen relations within the region and with larger economic players like China. This initiative comes as Malaysia seeks to navigate its foreign policy carefully while fostering strong trade relations, particularly with the US, which is a major investor in the country.