Asean, GCC and China - A new power bloc of the global south
Malaysia, as Asean Chair this year, is hosting the maiden Asean-GCC-China Summit which is set to unlock immense potential for multilateral cooperation.
27 May 2025 10:32am
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (L) talks to Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as he arrives for a bilateral meeting ahead of the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit after the 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 27, 2025. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / POOL / AFP)
BEIJING - As the global economic uncertainty rages on following the United States' (US) sweeping tariffs, China sees the inaugural Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur today not merely as a diplomatic gathering but a pivotal moment in the rise of the Global South.
For China, this tripartite meeting is far more than a symbolic gesture. It represents the emergence of a new economic and strategic axis, one that challenges traditional Western-dominated trade frameworks and offers an alternative vision of cooperative development. Personnel secure the vicinity of KLCC Park ahead of the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on May 25, 2025. (Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP)
This was made evident when China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Mao Ning, remarked last week that China looks to expand practical cooperation with Asean and the oil-rich GCC member states in various fields to leverage their respective strengths, pursue win-win results and defend common interests of the Global South.
It would be a coming together of Asean's quest to foster integration within Southeast Asia, GCC's aim to reduce dependence on oil and diversify the economy, and China's Belt and Road Initiative focusing on global infrastructure development strategies.
Malaysia, as Asean Chair this year, is hosting the maiden Asean-GCC-China Summit which is set to unlock immense potential for multilateral cooperation.
The combined weight of Asean, GCC and China is certainly reshaping the global economic dynamics.
Asean, now the world's fifth-largest economy with a collective gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$3.6 trillion (US$1=RM4.22), is not just a manufacturing hub but also a burgeoning consumer market of 700 million people.
On Sunday, Malaysia's Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz told a press conference that the collective Asean GDP is projected to grow at 4.7 per cent in 2025 from 4.2 per cent last year.
Meanwhile, GCC, backed by its vast energy reserves and nearly US$2 trillion in sovereign wealth funds, is rapidly diversifying under ambitious plans like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
China, the world's second-largest economy with a US$18.6 trillion GDP, brings unparalleled industrial capacity, technological innovation and infrastructure expertise.
Together, these three regions account for nearly a quarter of global economic output and a consumer base exceeding 2.1 billion people -- a force that could no longer be sidelined in global governance.
What distinguishes this partnership is its foundation in mutual benefit rather than ideological alignment.
Asean's youthful demographics and rich natural resources complement China's manufacturing and technological prowess, while GCC's financial capital and diversification goals align seamlessly with China's outward investment and green energy ambitions.
Trade between these regions is already flourishing, with China-Asean trade reaching 1.71 trillion yuan (US$234.17 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, a year-on-year increase of 7.1 per cent.
Meanwhile, China-GCC trade hit over US$288 billion in 2024, with Gulf states supplying 40 per cent of China's crude oil imports.
Policy coordination is also accelerating.
The China-Asean Free Trade Agreement 3.0 wrapped up last week expands cooperation in digital trade and sustainable development, while the ongoing China-GCC free trade talks promise to create one of the world's largest trade blocs.
The summit serves as a platform to synchronise three transformative development strategies, namely China's Belt and Road Initiative, Asean's Connectivity Master Plan 2025 and the GCC's Vision 2030.
At a time when Western economies are retreating into a protectionist mode, the Asean-GCC-China partnership offers a different model to build on economic resilience through diversification.
Asean has already surpassed the United States and the European Union as China's top export destination in 2023, while Gulf investments in Chinese technology, such as Saudi Arabia's US$5.6 billion push into artificial intelligence, signal deepening ties beyond energy.
The Digital Silk Road (DSR) initiative by China is further binding these regions together, with the country's cross-border e-commerce totalling 1.22 trillion yuan in the first half of 2024, up 10.5 per cent year-on-year.
China and its partners are weaving a more interconnected and resilient economic fabric, one where development is shared, not monopolised. This is exactly what China stresses on a daily basis and is being reported in local media publications.
Like Asean and the GCC, China's cooperation with Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) similarly demonstrate that its approach to global engagement is rooted in economic interdependence rather than coercion.
The Asean-GCC-China Summit is certainly a proving ground for a future where the Global South sets the agenda and a definitive statement that the world's economic or perhaps strategic centre of gravity is shifting.
In Beijing's strategic calculus, this is seen not just as a summit but the foundation of a new world order, one where the Global South takes its rightful place at the table.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to attend the summit on the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
This is the second official visit for Li to Malaysia since assuming the post in March 2023. He visited Malaysia in June last year in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic ties. - BERNAMA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PM: Embrace diversity as a strength, not a source of division
KUCHING: Racial diversity should be embraced as a strength to enhance national unity, rather than as a battleground for rivalry or a means to showcase superiority and ego, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He said that in many other countries, such diversity has led to racial and religious hostility, eventually burdening the nation and negatively affecting the people. "Unity within our multiracial society is increasingly essential to ensure that Malaysia remains strong amid the current uncertain global geopolitical landscape. "Never underestimate the potential problems if you are disunited. "The geopolitical conditions are so challenging and alarming. "The future is never certain. But what we can ensure is a united Malaysia," he said. Anwar was speaking at the 2025 Sarawak-level Gawai Dayak celebration dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Sunday night, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi were the guests of honour at the event. Anwar said as prime minister, he feels proud in showcasing the country's cultural and racial diversity, especially as Malaysia assumes the Asean chairmanship this year and when receiving foreign dignitaries and corporate leaders. He said this was exemplified during a recent meeting with ConocoPhillips chairman and chief executive officer Ryan Lance, where he wore a traditional Iban outfit gifted to him earlier by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. "So I told him (Ryan) about Sarawak, about the beauty of the culture, that's what we have to do. "And I take great pride as a Malaysian to speak to one of the great multi-billion dollar companies, probably one of the biggest oil companies in the world and number one in the United States," he said. Meanwhile, Anwar also announced that he will meet with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto this Friday to discuss a proposal for Sarawak to be positioned as a hub for the Asean Power Grid (APG). He said Sarawak, with its strengths in hydroelectric, gas and hydrogen energy, has the potential to spearhead the APG, not only by linking to Sabah and Indonesia's Kalimantan, but also extending to the southern Philippines.
Barnama
2 hours ago
- Barnama
Embrace Diversity As A Strength, Not A Source Of Division
KUCHING, June 22 (Bernama) -- Racial diversity should be embraced as a strength to enhance national unity, rather than as a battleground for rivalry or a means to showcase superiority and ego, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. He said that in many other countries, such diversity has led to racial and religious hostility, eventually burdening the nation and negatively affecting the people. 'Unity within our multiracial society is increasingly essential to ensure that Malaysia remains strong amid the current uncertain global geopolitical landscape. 'Never underestimate the potential problems if you are disunited. The geopolitical conditions are so challenging and alarming. The future is never certain. But what we can ensure is a united Malaysia,' he said. Anwar was speaking at the 2025 Sarawak-level Gawai Dayak celebration dinner at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here tonight, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi were the guests of honour at the event. Anwar said as prime minister, he feels proud in showcasing the country's cultural and racial diversity, especially as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship this year and when receiving foreign dignitaries and corporate leaders. He said this was exemplified during a recent meeting with ConocoPhillips Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ryan Lance, where he wore a traditional Iban outfit gifted to him earlier by Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi. 'So I told him (Ryan) about Sarawak, about the beauty of the culture, that's what we have to do. And I take great pride as a Malaysian to speak to one of the great multi-billion dollar companies, probably one of the biggest oil companies in the world and number one in the United States,' he said.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Asean not morally ambiguous
AS the war in Gaza grinds on, some have begun to question Asean's moral posture, suggesting it is caught between ethical clarity and geopolitical caution. A recent Nikkei Asia editorial, for instance, claimed Asean suffers from a strategic and moral dilemma in responding to the Israel-Palestine conflict. However, far from being paralysed, Asean has consistently supported a peaceful resolution based on international law. Since the 1970s, Asean has endorsed the two-state solution as the only viable path towards lasting peace. This includes support for United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the 1993 Oslo Accords, and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative — also known as the Makkah Accord. These are firm commitments to legality, diplomacy and human rights. The claim that Asean has been muted or morally ambiguous dismisses the role played by key member states — especially Malaysia and Indonesia. Both have consistently condemned Israeli aggression and voiced support for Palestinian self-determination. Singapore, while maintaining diplomatic relations with Israel, has also supported peaceful coexistence and a two-state solution grounded in rule of law. Asean has chosen collective consensus and sustained diplomacy over reactionary statements or token gestures. If paralysis exists, it is not within Asean, but within Israel's long-standing policy of rejectionism. Since the assassination of prime minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995, successive Israeli governments have walked away from every serious peace initiative. The expansion of illegal settlements, the military blockade of Gaza and discriminatory policies against Arab citizens have created a system many have likened to apartheid. The tragic events of Oct 7, 2023, have been cited by Israel to justify its indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza's hospitals, schools and refugee camps. Entire neighbourhoods have been flattened. Food, water and fuel have been denied to over two million civilians, more than half of whom are children. This is not self-defence — it is collective punishment, forbidden under international humanitarian law. Asean, by contrast, has called for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access and a return to negotiations. What Asean cannot do — because of geography and geopolitical limits — is intervene in a war sustained by decades of US vetoes at the UN Security Council and continuous arms support for Israel from Washington, London and Berlin. Notably, even within Europe there is growing unease. Belgium, Spain, Norway and Ireland have moved towards recognising Palestine as a sovereign state. They have criticised Israel's starvation tactics and disproportionate use of force. This shift is not an abandonment of Western alliances — it is a recognition that peace cannot be achieved through occupation and siege. Asean's position has also found resonance across the Global South. At the Asean-GCC Summit in October 2023, both blocs jointly reaffirmed their support for the two-state solution and peaceful coexistence. Asean's alignment with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the UN and the Arab League signals a unified call for justice — not through military intervention, but through diplomatic resolve. Asean does not practise megaphone diplomacy. Its strength lies in principled patience and coordinated regional consensus. Unlike Western powers, which condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine but defend Israeli strikes on Gaza, Asean does not apply moral standards selectively. What many forget is that this is not a war between two equal sides. It is the latest chapter in a prolonged occupation that began in 1967. To fault Asean for not taking sides in such a structurally unequal conflict is to conflate strategic restraint with moral apathy. Indeed, Asean's restraint is its greatest diplomatic asset. By refusing to inflame tensions or escalate rhetoric, Asean positions itself as a principled bloc that adheres to international norms. Malaysia and Indonesia, as prominent members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, have also spoken not just for Muslims, but for all who uphold dignity, justice and legality. The tragedy of Gaza is the failure of Israel to embrace coexistence, to respect international law and to heed decades of global appeals for peace. Asean has made its position clear: the only path forward is an end to occupation and the realisation of Palestinian statehood. Until that happens, it is not Asean's credibility that should be questioned — it is Israel's.
