Today, the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, is hosting the first summit of its kind between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with the full attendance of ASEAN leaders. According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the GCC countries and the Southeast Asian nations share common ties, primarily their strategic location, economic progress, international investment partnerships, cultural development, and the promotion of international peace and stability.
The relationship between the GCC countries and ASEAN dates back to March 1986, when the GCC Ministerial Council, during its eighteenth session, decided to approve initial communications with ASEAN and to engage in economic dialogues to explore ways to enhance cooperation between them.
Yesterday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, and the two sides held an official discussion session. On Wednesday, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, East Timor President José Ramos-Horta, and Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah also arrived. Additionally, yesterday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, along with their accompanying delegations, arrived to participate in the summit.
