KUWAIT, May 24 (KUNA) -- Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya said Kuwait's participation in GCC-ASEAN and GCC-ASEAN-China summits in Kuala Lumpur reflects Kuwait's commitment to establishing international partnerships and communicating with regional blocs.
Al-Yahya made the statement to KUNA on Saturday amid Kuwait's preparations for both summits, along with a simultaneous economic summit, due in Kuala Lumpur on May 26-28.
He added that His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah's Representative, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah would lead the Kuwaiti delegation and the Gulf side during the two summits as part of Kuwait's presidency of the 45th GCC session.
He added that Kuwait's involvement in the gatherings affirms its commitment to establishing the international partnership approach, promoting communication with regional blocs and broadening cooperation in the multilateral arena amid the rapid development of Gulf relations with ASEAN countries and China in various fields in a way that boosts joint interests.
The minister said the GCC-ASEAN cooperation framework for 2024-2028 covers the promotion of cooperation in four areas pertinent to political- economic and trade dialogue, energy, food security and coordination in international arenas, considering the two summits an opportunity for participating countries' leaders to share views on regional and international developments and coordinate stances in international domains.
Noting the significance of the two summits, he underlined the GCC countries' commitment to cementing regional integration and developing channels of cooperation with ASEAN countries in relevant domains.
The foreign minister went on saying that the agenda of the two events covers significant matters and subjects bearing on joint cooperation priorities, including food security, energy security, digital transformation, innovation, logistical connectivity, education and tourism, thus serving sustainable development goals, strengthening regional security and stability and deepening economic partnership.
He recalled the first GCC-ASEAN summit held in Riyadh in 2023, which outlined priority areas of cooperation between the two sides.
Al-Yahya stressed that Kuwait's participation in Kuala Lumpur gatherings shows Kuwait's firm commitment to reactivating its developmental diplomacy and promoting its international partnerships that are of global influence.
He added that his country considers the two summits bridges of communication and significant platforms for sharing views and coordination about issues of mutual interest in a way that contributes to promoting partnership.
Through this high-level participation, he said, the GCC countries seek to contribute to developing an ambitious collective vision that mirrors regional understandings and pushes forward closer integration between the GCC, ASEAN and China in a way that fulfills people's ambitions about security, prosperity and sustainable development.
He voiced confidence that the output of the two gatherings would contribute to adopting a roadmap of institutional cooperation between the GCC, ASEAN and China in a way that could thereby identify follow-up and implementation mechanisms for joint initiatives and push forward partnerships in areas of mutual interest.
The foreign minister noted that His Highness the Amir's Representative, His Highness the Crown Prince would meet with participating delegations' heads on the sidelines of the gatherings within the framework of promoting bilateral ties, exchanging views about the latest regional and international developments and exploring joint cooperation opportunities, thus serving mutual interests and beefing up joint partnerships between Kuwait and friendly countries. (end) aa.mt