GCC-ASEAN partnership must advance trade, sustainability and regional stability, says Saudi FM
KUALA LUMPUR: Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah has called for stronger economic and strategic cooperation between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ASEAN, emphasising trade facilitation, digital transformation and regional stability.
Speaking at the 2nd GCC-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Prince Faisal, representing Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, outlined key priorities for advancing the partnership between the two regions, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
He said the partnership, founded during the first summit in Riyadh in 2023, must now focus on deepening regional market integration, promoting sustainability, engaging both public and private sectors, and fostering closer people-to-people relations.
'The economic relations between our countries offer promising opportunities in key sectors, including finance, agriculture, halal food industries, and green and renewable energy,' he said.
Prince Faisal highlighted that trade between GCC and ASEAN grew by 21 per cent from 2023 to 2024, reaching a total volume of approximately US$123 billion in 2024. This, he noted, reflects the vast potential of the partnership.
He urged both sides to intensify efforts to remove trade barriers and facilitate easier market access.
Referring to the Economic and Investment Conference held in Riyadh on May 28 last year, the minister described the event as a vital platform for exchanging investment opportunities and encouraging private sector collaboration.
Prince Faisal also addressed shared global challenges such as climate change, energy market volatility, and the need to improve food and water security.
He recalled the joint commitment made during the first summit to collectively address these issues and reaffirmed the Kingdom's determination to work with ASEAN partners in navigating global uncertainties.
On the Palestinian issue, Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia's firm stance in support of a two-state solution, advocating for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He also urged the international community to intensify efforts to promote peace, support humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, and address regional tensions with a comprehensive political and humanitarian approach.
Prince Faisal added that by reaffirming Saudi Arabia's support for all initiatives that strengthen GCC-ASEAN cooperation and help realise the shared aspirations for prosperity, development and stability.
The high-level summit, hosted by Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, brought together leaders from both regional blocs to strengthen cooperation across political, economic and security domains.
The 46th ASEAN Summit, held under Malaysia's 2025 Chairmanship theme, 'Inclusivity and Sustainability', marks the country's fifth term as ASEAN Chair, following previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
As War Halts Dreams, Palestinian Youth Champion Education For freedom
By Nur Elysa Amirah Suhaimi and Nur Atiq Maisara Suhaimi KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- Palestinian youth are harnessing education as a powerful medium to raise global awareness about their struggle for freedom from Israel's occupation and atrocities. A representative from the General Union of Palestinian Students - Malaysia Branch (GUPS), Dr Mohammed R.M Salem, said the quest for knowledge has become a form of empowerment for young Palestinians, many of whom have had their dreams disrupted by war. bootstrap slideshow 'We seek peace, prosperity, and the right to live – not violence or expansion. This reflects the difference between a nation that strives to live and progress, and one that seeks power by oppressing others. 'We will continue with our cause today, tomorrow, and for as long as it takes until Palestine is free,' he told Bernama at the 'More Than A War, It's Genocide' forum held at the National Art Gallery here. The forum was the highlight of the two-day 'The World Unites for Palestine' campaign organised by Year Three students from the Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy Programme, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The campaign aimed to raise awareness, promote cultural exchange and support the well-being of Palestinians living in Malaysia. Despite facing decades of adversity, Palestinians remain among the most literate populations in the world. According to data, as of Jan 31, 2025, literacy rate in Palestine was 96 per cent – slightly lower than the 97.8 per cent recorded in 2022.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
China urges officials to rein in overzealous dining austerity measures
Leading publications of China's ruling Communist Party have urged local governments to implement strictures on lavish banquets carefully, an attempt to temper overzealousness amid concerns from the country's beleaguered food and beverage industry. Qiushi, the party's theoretical journal, said in a commentary piece on Friday that recent affirmations of the need for frugality in official meals are intended to limit extravagant practices, not ordinary dining. 'Some local governments scrutinise every meal gathering and intervene in every banquet. Some agencies, to 'avoid trouble', simply cancel all official receptions. Some cadres even go so far as to avoid normal working meals,' the piece read. Such 'oversimplified' measures have complicated understanding of the regulations in question, derailing their original intention and bringing 'unnecessary shocks to the catering industry'. Curbs on perceived excess in official meals spread across the country in May after the party's Central Committee and the State Council, the national cabinet, released their 'Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Bodies'. The document stipulates rules for receptions involving government officials or employees of state-backed organs, banning 'high-end dishes', cigarettes and liquor at these events. Localities, to demonstrate their compliance, have rolled out their own guidelines on the matter, with some extreme cases receiving media attention. Earlier this month, two bank managers in the central province of Anhui were each fined 3,000 yuan (US$417) for accepting bowls of noodles priced at around 6 yuan (83 US cents) each from a client, according to Yangcheng Evening News, an official publication of the southern city of Guangzhou. '[Some places] ban officials from drinking alcohol 24 hours a day, limit attendants at meals to three heads, or mandate bill splitting ... There have been some misinterpretations of the regulations,' state news agency Xinhua said in a commentary on Thursday. 'Addressing illicit feasting and promoting normal consumption and market prosperity are not mutually exclusive,' Xinhua said. 'This must not negatively impact the normal operations of the catering industry or the public's regular consumption.' In its Friday commentary, Qiushi told government agencies to assess cases comprehensively based on 'reception standards, sources of funds, the relationships between participants' and other factors to identify non-compliant meals. 'This protects compliant officials, respects normal social interactions among friends and family and avoids disrupting regular dining activities.' On Tuesday, People's Daily also warned of consequences for the catering industry and the economy as a whole if the regulations continued to be excessively enforced. 'When restaurants lose their customers, what disappears is more than just the vibrancy of life; it is also service staff's wages, orders for farmers and supply chain flows,' the Communist Party paper said. 'The cost of these escalating measures ultimately falls on the shoulders of labourers.' According to government data, 34.35 million people were working in China's food and hospitality industries as of the end of 2023. Among them, 25.41 million were employed by individual operators. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Timor-Leste and Asean: Partnership, unity and global engagement
TIMOR-LESTE'S journey to peace and sovereignty has been long and difficult, but it has always been grounded in a clear vision: to be an active, constructive member of the international and regional community. Our pursuit of full Asean membership is a deliberate choice rooted in respect, responsibility, and a desire to contribute to southeast Asia's peace, prosperity and unity. Timor-Leste honours Asean and the values it represents. Our application to join is not symbolic: it is a statement of intent. We seek to belong and to contribute. Asean embodies diversity governed by dialogue and consensus. These are principles that align deeply with our current trajectory of democratic consolidation. Asean's strength lies in its centrality — its ability to provide a stable, inclusive platform for regional and global diplomacy. Timor-Leste fully accepts the responsibilities of membership, to internalise Asean norms, and to participate in its mechanisms, such as the Asean Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, current Asean chair and a global leader, secured the unanimous endorsement of all regional and extra-regional leaders for Timor-Leste Asean membership. We are indebted. President Prabowo Subianto of Indonesia reinforced his support during the recent Asean Summit in Kuala Lumpur. We acknowledge and appreciate the support of all member states, which provides us with the confidence to complete our preparations for Asean integration. Beyond Asean, Timor-Leste envisions a bridging role to the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). As a nation vulnerable to climate change, we share common cause with Pacific Island nations. We will work to connect Asean's climate and sustainability goals with those of the Pacific, especially in forums like the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), which fosters regional cooperation on clean energy, decarbonisation and environmental stewardship. In doing so, Timor-Leste can help promote the ecological resilience of two overlapping regions facing shared existential challenges. We recognise that membership requires more than political will. Asean's working language is English, and Timor-Leste is committed to strengthening English-language proficiency among our diplomats and civil servants. While Tetum and Portuguese remain central to our identity, the practical tools of diplomacy demand regional alignment. We will focus on building our institutional capacity through training in Asean-based learning centres — particularly in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. This ensures that our integration is not only symbolic but operational, allowing us to contribute substantively to Asean discussions and negotiations. Though we maintain close historical ties with Portugal and Lusophone countries, Timor-Leste is actively localising its governance and policy frameworks to reflect Asean's institutional models. This includes harmonising our legal codes, trade procedures and diplomatic practices. We do not see this as the loss of identity but as a regional adaptation to ensure compatibility, trust and coherence within Asean's evolving political and economic ecosystem. Timor-Leste's membership should serve as an encouraging example for other countries on Asean's periphery. Papua New Guinea (PNG), a significant state in the Pacific, has long expressed interest in Asean. President Prabowo's mention of PNG as a potential future member reflects a growing consensus that Asean can expand strategically and inclusively. Timor-Leste is prepared to assist PNG in navigating the necessary political and economic adjustments and sharing our lessons and journey through Asean's rigorous pathways to accession. As we prepare for full membership, we reaffirm our commitment to engaging Asean's dialogue partners constructively and neutrally. Timor-Leste will work closely with the United States, India, China, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, the European Union, Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia and New Zealand. These relationships must remain balanced and mutually reinforcing. We aim to contribute to regional security and economic growth without becoming an arena for major power competition. We are mindful of the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar, and although not yet a member, Timor-Leste will align with Asean's collective position in advocating peaceful resolution through pro active, inclusive dialogue. This milestone will not mark the end of our journey, but the beginning of a deeper phase of regional integration. Our small nation brings with it a powerful story of resilience, unity and reconciliation. We do not claim to have all the answers, but we offer the sincerity, commitment and determination that Asean needs in an increasingly volatile world. Timor-Leste is prepared to serve Asean's ideals and contribute to its future. We will defend its centrality, uphold its consensus-driven diplomacy, and extend its principles into the wider Pacific.
