Shi Zhongjun, secretary-general of the ASEAN-China Center, emphasized that the first-ever trilateral summit between ASEAN, China, and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) marks a new and innovative approach to regional cooperation.
The 46th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit opened on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, with a first ever ASEAN-GCC-China summit to be held.
Shi is optimistic about the potential impact of the trilateral meeting on the future prospect of cooperation. With ASEAN ranking as the world's fifth-largest economic bloc -- on track to become the fourth by 2030 -- China as a global technological and industrial powerhouse, and the GCC as a leading energy exporter accelerating its economic diversification, the three sides bring together highly complementary strengths, he noted.
Building on this foundation, the trilateral framework is poised to unlock synergies across multiple sectors. China's advanced industrial capacity and leadership in the digital economy, ASEAN's strategic trade hubs and dynamic labor force, and the Gulf region's energy resources, capital reserves, and logistics networks create a strong basis for deepened collaboration, said Shi.
"We have warehouses in the central, eastern and western parts of the United States. We have contacted the idle warehouses in the surrounding parks and have been replenishing the storage capacity, hoping to help the sellers take advantage of the dividends during this window period," Shi added.
"Looking forward, the three sides can continue to actively expand cooperation in emerging areas, in the area of green economy. China's leading technology and innovation in renewable and clean energy can immensely support ASEAN and GCC's transition," he explained.
Shi also highlighted the potential for the three sides to align their strategies and generate regional sustainability program to combat climate change.
"The trilateral collaboration will also foster the use of common technology to promote integrated digital economy, such as e-commerce, digital payment systems, digital ecosystem and AI-driven logistics. Meanwhile, the closer cooperation will lead to the increasing interaction across the business sectors, which will promote trade and investment flows and reliable and resilient supply chains in the region," said Shi.
Trilateral meeting to open new chapter for China-ASEAN-GCC cooperation: secretary-general
