MALAYSIA is poised to make diplomatic history as it prepares to host the inaugural ASEAN–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Kuala Lumpur this May, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced on Saturday.
Speaking at the state-level Aidilfitri MADANI 2025 celebration at Pantai Irama in Kelantan, Anwar said the summit will bring together leaders from all ASEAN member states and six Gulf nations — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman — marking a significant milestone in Malaysia’s international engagement.
“Alhamdulillah, our system, our peace, and our strong economic growth have attracted global attention for the summit to be held here,” Anwar said, noting the confidence shown by regional and global partners in Malaysia’s leadership and political stability.
In a move that further underscores Malaysia’s inclusive and pragmatic foreign policy, Anwar revealed that China had also been invited to participate in the summit.
“InsyaAllah, at the end of May, Malaysia will make history again. For the first time, we are organising a summit of ASEAN heads of state together with the leaders of the Gulf nations,” he said.
“… we’ve also invited China, and there is a strong possibility that its Premier, Li Qiang, will be present,” he added.
Anwar emphasised Malaysia’s commitment to open and constructive international engagement, regardless of geopolitical blocs, reaffirming the country’s position as a neutral yet proactive player on the global stage.
“We remain friends with all our neighbouring countries. And we remain committed to safeguarding the interests of our people. Our people must have access to good job opportunities,” he said.
“(We) must attract new investments — if it is from America, we accept; from Arab countries, we accept; from China, we accept.”
The upcoming summit is expected to open new avenues for strategic cooperation in trade, energy, investment, and technology between Southeast Asia and the Gulf, while also expanding Malaysia’s role as a diplomatic and economic bridge between Asia and the Middle East.
The event will also provide a key platform for dialogue on regional stability, security cooperation, and sustainable development — all within the context of a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Elaborating, Anwar said Malaysia continues to draw the attention and respect of global and regional leaders, owing to its steady governance and sound economic direction, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Saturday.
The Prime Minister revealed that several world leaders have personally reached out to him in recent days to express their interest in Malaysia’s current political and economic trajectory.
"Imagine — for the first time in our history, world leaders and Asian leaders are contacting me. They’re not doing so because I’m the Prime Minister, but because Malaysia is now recognised for its stable government," he said.
Among the leaders who recently contacted Anwar were New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Attributing Malaysia’s rising profile to a combination of political stability and a forward-looking economic policy, Anwar noted that the country’s investment climate has significantly improved and continues to attract foreign interest.
"Our economic policies have the capacity to draw investment, even as the world navigates through challenges such as the tariff hikes recently announced by U.S. President Donald Trump," he added.
Commenting on Trump’s controversial trade policy — which includes steep tariffs on a wide range of imports — Anwar acknowledged the broader concerns such measures have raised among global economies.
"This new policy is certainly concerning because it could negatively impact global economies and job markets," he warned.
However, Anwar said Malaysia was fortunate to have avoided immediate repercussions, after coordinated diplomatic efforts within ASEAN helped the region negotiate a delay in the implementation of some of Trump’s measures.
"We reached out to all ASEAN countries, and thankfully, Trump agreed to postpone implementation for many nations, including ASEAN members and Malaysia. So, we were spared. Unfortunately, China was not — he imposed very high tariffs on them," he said.
U.S. president Donald Trump recently introduced a revised tariff structure that lowers new import duties to 10 percent for most American trading partners over a 90-day period to allow time for further trade negotiations. However, exceptions remain, particularly targeting Chinese imports.
Malaysia’s exemption from the harsher end of the tariff plan is viewed as a diplomatic and economic win, reinforcing its strategic relevance and growing reputation for responsible leadership on the global stage. – April 12, 2025
