Minister of Foreign Affairs Represents Crown Prince at Second Summit between Gulf Cooperation Council and ASEAN Nations

On behalf of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated today in the second summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In his address, the Minister highlighted the strong foundations established during the inaugural summit in Saudi Arabia in 2023 and emphasized the ambitious partnership between the two regional groups. He articulated the importance of enhancing mutual commitments, delving into economic partnership priorities, and deepening regional market integration and sustainability. Additionally, he underscored the significance of digital transformation, private and public sector collaboration, and fostering people-to-people connections.

Prince Faisal praised the ongoing second summit in Malaysia, which builds upon the achievements of previous meetings and aims to advance partnerships that serve the interests and aspirations of both groups. He highlighted the crucial role of sustainable development and regional stability, emphasizing that economic relationships between the two blocs present significant opportunities in various vital sectors such as finance, agriculture and halal food production, as well as green and renewable energy.

Notably, trade between the GCC and ASEAN states has demonstrated considerable growth, surging by 21% between 2023 and 2024, with estimates projecting trade volumes to reach approximately $123 billion in 2024. This growth reflects the immense potential of their partnership and underscores the necessity of intensifying efforts to facilitate trade and address any barriers that may hinder exchange.

The Minister also referred to the economic and investment conference organized by the Ministry of Investment in Riyadh on May 28, 2024. This event served as an exceptional platform for exchanging investment opportunities and establishing communication bridges between private sectors from both regions, with hopes of boosting private sector engagement towards achieving shared objectives.

Furthermore, Prince Faisal remarked that the second summit is being held in the context of numerous global challenges, including the repercussions of climate change, fluctuations in energy markets, and the urgent need to enhance food and water security. He reiterated the commitments established during the first summit in Riyadh in 2023 to confront these pressing challenges collaboratively.

In his speech, the Minister reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s dedication to a fair and comprehensive resolution to ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the two-state solution and international legitimacy’s resolutions. He called for collective international efforts to promote peace and provide humanitarian relief in Gaza, as well as to foster regional stability by comprehensively addressing political and humanitarian tensions.

Concluding his remarks, Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s support for initiatives that promote cooperation between the GCC and ASEAN countries. Such efforts aim to fulfill the aspirations of their peoples toward a prosperous and sustainable future.

Attending the summit were several dignitaries including Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, Deputy Minister for Multilateral International Relations and General Supervisor of the Public Diplomacy Agency; Abdullah bin Zar’ah, Deputy Minister for Economy and Development; Sara Al-Sayed, Deputy Minister of Investment for International Relations; and several ambassadors and officials representing the interests of Saudi Arabia in Malaysia and beyond.

The summit reflected a steadfast commitment among GCC and ASEAN countries to forge partnerships that ensure mutual growth, socio-economic development, and resilience in the face of contemporary global challenges, reinforcing the critical importance of international cooperation and dialogue.