Malaysia to host inaugural summit of Asean, China, Gulf bloc in May
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Asean must expand its global engagement beyond traditional partners, said Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will hold an inaugural joint summit for China, Asean and a key bloc of Middle East states in May as they navigate global trade tensions, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.
Asean must expand its global engagement beyond traditional partners, Datuk Seri Anwar said at a conference in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 17.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members include Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, will be in attendance at the May event, he said.
“Strengthening ties with China, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Brics and other emerging economies is not about choosing sides,” Mr Anwar said. “Rather, it is about ensuring Asean’s strategic relevance in a multipolar world.”
Malaysia, which helms Asean in 2025,
Malaysian Trade Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said on Feb 17 he plans to go to the US in the second quarter to engage with investors and discuss trade with the US.
“We remain non-aligned and will not be drawn into great power rivalries,” Mr Anwar said. “We reject economic coercion and unilateral actions that undermine regional stability.”
China has been the collective Asean bloc’s largest trading partner for years.
“Malaysia can be China’s gateway to Asean and the wider world,” Datuk Seri Zafrul said. BLOOMBERG
