Second ASEAN-GCC Summit Begins in Kuala Lumpur

The much-awaited second ASEAN-GCC summit has begun in Kuala Lumpur. The summit, which began on Tuesday (May 27), is bringing together 10 Southeast Asian member states and six Gulf countries.

The summit is being held at a time when both alliances are seeking to increase mutual trust in the context of the new polarization of world politics, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza crisis and security threats in the Red Sea.

According to analysts, the possibility of forming a trade alliance may gain importance at the summit. Investment and security issues are also being discussed. As well as a formal proposal may come on the ‘China-Persian Gulf-Southeast Asia Corridor’.

Earlier, the day began in the morning with the 16th East ASEAN Growth Area Summit. This sub-regional alliance, consisting of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, has been working in various fields of cooperation for the last three decades. This time, the customs, immigration, and quarantine cooperation framework is gaining special importance, which is expected to facilitate the movement of goods and people among member countries.