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SNS: Asia Letter: Q3 2025 TOMORROWLAND By Scott Foster _______
The first ASEAN-China-GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) summit meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur at the end of May. Malaysian prime minister Anwar Ibrahim initiated the diplomacy that led to this event, which sent a clear message to the US, Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Australia that the strategic balance in Asia and the Middle East has shifted, whether they were paying attention or not. The joint statement issued by the participants is a comprehensive expression of shared purpose that amounts to a rejection of the policies and attitudes of the current US government. In part, it reads: WE, the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, and the People's Republic of China; ACKNOWLEDGING the long-lasting and deeply-rooted historical and civilizational linkage and economic ties among ASEAN, China and GCC; RECOGNIZING the close and mutually-beneficial economic collaboration and cooperation among ASEAN, China and GCC; REAFFIRMING our desire to further promote ASEAN-China-GCC relations, guided by fundamental principles and shared values, norms and commitments, including those enunciated in the United Nations Charter; UNDERSCORING the importance of regionalism and multilateralism, regional unity and international law in addressing shared challenges, while upholding ASEAN centrality in the evolving regional architecture to foster peace, stability, development and prosperity; UNDERSCORING the importance of GCC's critical role to foster peace, security, stability, development, prosperity and dialogue; APPRECIATING China's crucial role in promoting peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development in regional and international affairs; ACKNOWLEDGING the importance of strengthening relations among ASEAN, China and GCC in promoting regional cooperation and economic development in the broader Asia-Pacific and Middle Eastern contexts; RECOGNIZING that ASEAN, China and GCC encompass diverse and complementary economies which create enormous potential, broad prospects and new opportunities for greater cross-sectoral trade, investment and economic collaboration; RECOGNIZING the need to strengthen confidence in the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core to protect businesses, consumers worldwide and livelihoods of people in our regions; The statement then provides a detailed to-do list, which includes: Reaffirm the central and indispensable role of the WTO at the core of the rules-based multilateral trading system; Promote free trade by concluding the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 3.0 Upgrade Negotiations; Explore cooperation on local currency and cross-border payments; Promote high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative; Enhance collaboration on renewable energy and promote cooperation on environmental sustainability strengthening multilateralism and climate solidarity. WTO, China-ASEAN free trade, non-dollar payments, Belt & Road, renewable energy, and climate solidarity. A veritable Donald Trump Republican hate list. And plenty for Japan and South Korea to think about while wringing their hands over Trump's non-reciprocal tariffs.
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