KUALA LUMPUR -- His Highness Kuwait's Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's Representative, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah underscored the urgent need for deeper regional and international collaboration to address pressing global challenges.
The call was made during the opening of the second GCC-ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, under the joint leadership of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and Malaysian Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim.
His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is the current chair of GCC, and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is the current Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah delivered the summit's opening address, expressing warm greetings on behalf of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and extended sincere wishes for the summit's success in strengthening the growing partnership between the two regional blocs.
In his remarks, the Crown Prince emphasized the global importance of the GCC and ASEAN, highlighting their combined economic strength, vast populations, and strategic locations, saying that the two regions account for a gross domestic product of nearly USD six trillion and a combined population of approximately 740 million.
Recalling the inaugural GCC-ASEAN Summit held in Riyadh in October 2023, the Crown Prince described it as a pivotal moment for shaping a comprehensive partnership, and affirmed the commitment of the GCC to building upon this momentum through the "2024-2028 Strategic Cooperation Framework," which outlines practical steps to establish cooperation and achieve tangible progress.
The Crown Prince stressed that economic cooperation remains a top priority, and noted that in 2023, the GCC was ASEAN's seventh-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching USD 130.7 billion, and projected growth of 30 percent over the next decade to an expected USD 180 billion by 2032.
He highlighted the opportunities for expanding trade, investments, and partnerships across sectors, including energy, technology, and sustainable development.
On energy security and climate action, the Crown Prince lauded ASEAN's progress in renewable energy and reiterated the GCC's readiness to share expertise in clean energy, green hydrogen, and low-carbon technologies to support global climate goals, particularly the Paris Agreement.
The Crown Prince also called for enhanced cooperation in food security, digital transformation, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, and proposed establishing mechanisms for knowledge exchange and joint projects, including infrastructure development and innovation in agriculture and supply chain resilience.
In cultural and human exchange, the Crown Prince proposed designating 2026 as the "Year of Cultural Convergence" between the GCC and ASEAN, including cultural festivals, exhibitions, and reciprocal events such as an ASEAN Day in a GCC country and a GCC Cultural Day in an ASEAN member state.
He also advocated for initiatives empowering youth and women through training programs and entrepreneurship support.
Turning to pressing regional and global issues, the Crown Prince reaffirmed the GCC's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
He called on the international community to uphold its legal and moral responsibilities by ensuring the protection of civilians in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories and supporting a credible peace process based on international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, and also welcomed ASEAN's solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
Regarding Syria, the Crown Prince welcomed positive developments on the ground and reiterated the GCC's support for efforts to maintain Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, with the aim of restoring stability and opening pathways for development and prosperity.
The Crown Prince also stressed that the success of the summit lies not only in the adoption of recommendations but in translating shared ambitions into actionable initiatives, and proposed establishing a high-level follow-up mechanism, co-managed by the GCC and ASEAN Secretariats, to monitor progress and ensure continued engagement.
The Crown Prince extended an invitation to ASEAN nations to participate in Expo 2030, which will be hosted in Riyadh, as a global platform for showcasing sustainable partnerships, innovative technologies, and economic and cultural exchange. (end) dss