GCC and ASEAN: Decades of Friendship and Cooperation

Riyadh, October 19, 2023, SPA – The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) share common bonds, including their strategic locations, economic progress, fostering international investment partnerships, cultural development, and the promotion of international peace and stability.
The history of the GCC-ASEAN relations dates back to March 1986 when the 18th session of the Ministerial Council decided to initiate contacts with the ASEAN. Additionally, the Council approved the opening of economic dialogues and discussions at the time on ways to enhance cooperation between them.
The significance of the relationship between the GCC countries and the ASEAN lies in their joint efforts to promote peace, prosperity, and the well-being of their respective peoples by strengthening cooperation between them.
In continuation of these efforts, the first joint ministerial meeting for the Strategic Dialogue between the GCC and the ASEAN was held in Manama in May 2009. During this meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation between the two Secretariats was signed.
At the second ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue, held in Singapore in June 2010, the two sides approved an action plan that encompassed economic and cultural areas. Additionally, six specialized working teams were established in the fields of economy and trade, agricultural investment and food security, education, tourism, energy, culture, and media.
In November, the third ministerial meeting between the GCC countries and the ASEAN took place in Manama. During this meeting, the two sides emphasized the significance of upholding sovereignty and non-interference principles, based on the principles of good neighbourliness and in accordance with the fundamental bylaws of the GCC, the charters of the United Nations and the ASEAN, as well as international law.
The meeting also called for efforts to strengthen economic, cultural, and scientific partnerships with the goal of deepening and structuring their relations. It emphasized the importance of working towards global and regional peace as the foundation for progress and prosperity for people worldwide. Additionally, the GCC countries and the ASEAN countries reached a consensus to enhance cooperation and coordination in international forums on matters of mutual interest.
Both parties lauded their bilateral profound relations along with the cultural and civilizational ties that bind them. They also promoted the importance of respecting diversity, engaging in interfaith dialogues, and promoting moderation through education, culture, media, and tourism.
These factors serve as essential pillars in countering extremist activities while fostering mutual trust and understanding.
Collaboration in these areas is deemed a fundamental source of strength for both regions, bolstering their developmental models and international influence.
In September 2018, the GCC Troika held joint talks with the ASEAN on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA) 73rd session in New York.
During the talks, they reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing relations within the framework of their common vision, in addition to exchanging viewpoints on regional and international issues, as well as shared challenges.
In September 2019, a discussion session was conducted at the United Nations headquarters in New York, involving the GCC and ASEAN countries on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UNGA.
The session reiterated the importance of open free trade, commitment to the rule of law, and the multilateral trading system based on the rules of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
To enhance the relations between the GCC countries and the ASEAN, the accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) was achieved. This reaffirms the strong connections with East Asian nations and expands the framework of cooperation in various areas concerning shared interests. It also contributes to fulfilling the aspirations of all countries in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), promoting collective efforts, and creating new developmental and economic opportunities for everyone.
In preparation for the GCC-ASEAN Summit in October 2023, the General Secretariat of the GCC held a preparatory meeting in Riyadh last August. During this meeting, preparations were discussed, and ways to strengthen relations between the two sides were explored.
As part of the two parties’ ongoing economic collaboration, the volume of GCC-ASEAN trade reached $93.9 billion in 2019, with goods exports amounting to approximately $60.9 billion, while goods imports totalled $33 billion.
In this context, petroleum products constituted 73.1% of the overall commodity exports from GCC countries to ASEAN nations, with a value of $44.5 billion in 2019. Subsequently, plastic products and their derivatives accounted for 8.7%, equivalent to $5.3 billion, followed by gold and precious metals at 3.8%, with a total worth of $2.3 billion.
In an effort to further enhance and advance these relationships, the Kingdom's hosting of the GCC Summit with ASEAN countries is set to take place in Riyadh on Thursday.
The summit comes in line with the vision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to build a strategic partnership between the countries of the GCC and ASEAN. The summit aims to elevate the level of coordination between both parties on issues of mutual interest, enhance joint GCC cooperation, and activate regional and global strategic partnerships for the GCC, ultimately benefiting the citizens of the GCC countries and the region.
The convening of the GCC Summit with ASEAN in the Kingdom reflects the appreciation of the participating countries for its regional and international significance.
Moreover, it underscores the GCC-ASEAN commitment to establishing an ambitious future strategic partnership among their countries through a framework of common cooperation for the next five years and the decisions and initiatives that will result from the summit.
The importance of the GCC Summit with the ASEAN lies in its unique status as the first of its kind at the leadership level. This reflects the GCC countries' willingness, with the Kingdom at the forefront, to establish partnerships with influential international blocs, with the aim of bolstering the global standing of the GCC.
The summit aims to adopt the framework for joint cooperation for the upcoming five years, covering the period from 2024 to 2028. This framework encompasses political, security, economic, and investment cooperation, along with collaboration in tourism, energy, food security, and agriculture, as well as social and cultural cooperation.
-- SPA