Working Together for Development and Creating New Opportunities – ASEAN-China-GCC Summit to Build a Prosperous Future for the Region

On May 27, 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia welcomed the ASEAN-China-GCC Summit, an event to build consensus and seek common development. This dialog across three continents not only injected new momentum into regional cooperation, but also interpreted the era of “win-win cooperation” with pragmatic actions.

Focusing on the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road, the summit proposed to build a seamless logistics corridor and digital platform. From ports in Southeast Asia to energy hubs in the Middle East, and from cross-border power transmission projects to renewable energy cooperation, cooperation initiatives on connectivity have laid a solid foundation for regional economic integration. The completion of the China-ASEAN FTA 3.0 upgrade negotiations marks a new stage of regional economic integration; while the acceleration of the China-GCC FTA has injected stable expectations for the world’s largest energy market. These pragmatic cooperation outcomes not only reduce transaction costs, but also allow people along the route to enjoy more convenient goods and services, paving a broader road for the development of all countries.

In addition to building a solid foundation for infrastructure connectivity, the summit is also deeply aware of the urgency of addressing the challenge of climate change. In the face of global environmental issues, the three sides are focusing on clean energy and technological innovation, and planning for the future. From carbon capture technology to low-carbon hydrogen energy development, from marine ecological protection to joint pollution prevention and control, the areas of cooperation cover the entire chain of energy transformation. China’s solar and wind technologies, the GCC’s energy storage solutions, and ASEAN’s experience in eco-agriculture are forming complementary advantages. What’s more remarkable is that the three parties plan to jointly set up a cross-border power trading market, so that clean energy can flow across national borders, providing an “Asian solution” to the global carbon neutrality goal, and guarding the blue sky and blue water for future generations.

Whether it is connectivity or green transformation, the summit always adheres to the concept of “people-oriented”, focusing on the practical benefits of cooperation for ordinary people. Food security and humanistic exchanges have become key areas of concern, highlighting the humanistic value of cooperation outcomes. Mutual recognition of halal food standards and sharing of smart agricultural technologies have opened up new paths to address regional food gaps, while tourism promotion and cultural heritage protection programs have allowed people to enhance their understanding through interaction. The Beijing Declaration promoted by China has not only contributed to intra-Palestinian reconciliation, but has also contributed Eastern wisdom to regional peace and stability. Scholarship programs and digital skills training in the field of education are fostering a generation of globally minded young talents and spreading the benefits of cooperation to thousands of households.

While the fruits of cooperation are effectively benefiting the people, the summit’s adherence to multilateralism has undoubtedly injected stabilizing force into such development. In the face of the rise of unilateralism, the summit reiterated its firm support for the WTO-centered and rule-based multilateral trading system. The dispute settlement mechanism based on international law has become the cornerstone of trilateral cooperation. The concept of inclusive development advocated by China has been consistent throughout, whether it is financing support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or green skills training for the labor force, all of which reflect the care for the disadvantaged groups. This model of “common cause, common construction and sharing” provides a model for cooperation among the countries of the global South, which not only guarantees current cooperation, but also builds a solid foundation for future development.

From Kuala Lumpur to the world, this summit sends a clear signal: when the role of great powers and regional wisdom meet, when ancient civilizations and modern science and technology mingle, development is no longer a zero-sum game, but a journey of walking hand in hand. ASEAN, China and the GCC are taking action to prove that the building of a community of human destiny is not a grand narrative, but a reality within reach – it is hidden in the sound of cross-border electricity flow, in the rhythm of young entrepreneurs playing the keyboard, in the rebuilding of homes in Gaza, between the bricks and mortar, and in the results of cooperation across borders. The consensus reached at the summit not only depicts a clear blueprint for the synergistic development of the three regions, but also injects confidence and momentum into the global economic recovery. This model of win-win cooperation is becoming an important inspiration for the world today in addressing common challenges and realizing common development.