TWTW Note

Photo Source: REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain
   NIAS Course on Global Politics
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in

CWA # 1692
TWTW Note
China-ASEAN-GCC Summit:
A Trilateral Cooperation
The World This Week #313 Vol 7, No 22, 01 June 2025

  Gauri Gupta
1 June 2025

The following note was first published as a part of The World This Week  #313 Vol 7, No 22, 01 June 2025

China-ASEAN-GCC Summit:
A Trilateral Cooperation
Gauri Gupta

What happened?
On 27 & 28 May 2025, the leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China convened for the ASEAN-GCC-China summit, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

On 27 May, in the opening of the summit, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim delivered a keynote address titled “The Beginning of a New Chapter in ASEAN’s Journey of Outward-Looking Engagement.” China’s Premier Li Qiang emphasized that China is aiming to collaborate with “ASEAN and the GCC in forging synergies that multiply.” Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah stated they will deepen cooperation and “improve their ability to face crisis.”

On 27 May, during the summit, the leaders highlighted the importance of finalizing key trade negotiations, including the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area 3.0 and the China-GCC Free Trade Agreement. They also emphasized collaboration, energy stability and sustainability, digital innovation, and cultural exchanges. They expressed serious concern over Gaza, condemning attacks on civilians and calling for a lasting ceasefire, safe humanitarian access, respect for international laws, and urging a peaceful two-state solution based on international agreements.

On 28 May, China announced visa-free travel allowances of 30 days to four Gulf countries: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait, for non-commercial purposes, from 9 June 2025.

What is the background?
First, China’s relationship with ASEAN and GCC. In the past two decades, China has become a vital economic and strategic partner of both ASEAN and the GCC member states. Since 2009, China has been ASEAN's largest trading partner, and by 2023, bilateral trade exceeded USD 975 billion. With GCC, China's trade surpassed  USD 240 billion in 2022, predominately driven by imports of energy, adding infrastructure investments, and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Previously, China had signed free trade agreements and comprehensive strategic partnerships with ASEAN & GCC with an aim to further dialogue on policy coordination, digital economy, and green technology transfers. 

Second, ASEAN–GCC relationship. The ASEAN–GCC relationship has historically been limited, however, it has expanded substantially since the early 2000s, particularly in areas of energy cooperation and food security. Their first ministerial meeting took place in 2009, and the first ASEAN-GCC Summit occurred in Riyadh in October 2023, where the leaders expressed commitment to promote connectivity, trade, and investments. In 2022, the trade between member states of ASEAN-GCC stood at USD 110 billion. 

What does it mean?
First, the increase in economic integration between China, ASEAN, and GCC. This trilateral format brings the countries on a single platform, combining GDP of nearly USD 25 trillion and a market of more than 2 billion people. The three-way cooperation further encourages China’s ambition to establish a broader economic and strategic footprint in changing global environments, especially after tariffs imposed under the Trump administration.  ASEAN and the GCC see China as an economic partner, which enables the development of balanced, multilateral cooperation for future sustainable economic growth, regional connectivity, and a lower reliance on Western markets.

Second, the emphasis on institutionalized cooperation. The summit has paved the way for greater connectivity through quality tourism, cultural, youth, and educational exchanges and STEM collaboration, arts, and support for the UN dialogue among civilizations and tourism digitalization practices.

About the author 
Gauri Gupta is a postgraduate student at Stella Marris College, Chennai. 

Print Bookmark

PREVIOUS COMMENTS

Global Politics Explainer
June 2025 | CWA # 1722

Rizwana Banu S

Diego Garcia: 
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1189

Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.

Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1187

Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.

Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1185

Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1183

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.

Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1178

​​​​​​​Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.

China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1177

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.

China and East Asia
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan