Kuala Lumpur: On behalf of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, participated in the second ASEAN-GCC Summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Summit gathered senior officials and leaders from participating delegations to discuss regional cooperation and strategic partnerships.
According to Bahrain News Agency, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa delivered a statement expressing appreciation to Malaysia for its hospitality and recognizing Saudi Arabia's role in hosting the inaugural Summit in Riyadh. The statement highlighted the evolution of the ASEAN-GCC partnership from its inception fifteen years ago at the first ASEAN-GCC Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue in Bahrain, emphasizing shared values and interests.
The statement underscored the partnership's progress, particularly since the first ASEAN-GCC Summit in Riyadh, which transformed initial engagements into a robust partnership focused on trade, investment, connectivity, innovation, and people-to-people ties. The alignment in approaches to resilience in food systems, tourism, and human capital investment was noted as a key factor in the partnership's success.
The Crown Prince acknowledged the complex challenges of climate change, economic fragmentation, and geopolitical tensions, while expressing hope through advancements in clean energy, digital innovation, and artificial intelligence. The partnership, grounded in mutual respect and shared values, was highlighted as vital for addressing global challenges.
Bahrain's commitment to multilateralism was reiterated, referencing the call for an international peace conference on the Middle East made during the 33rd Arab Summit. Bahrain's support for the ASEAN-GCC Joint Cooperation Plan for 2024-2028 and the launch of negotiations for an ASEAN-GCC Free Trade Agreement was emphasized as a framework for strengthening political, economic, and cultural ties.
The recent signing of the joint statement launching negotiations for a Malaysia-GCC Free Trade Agreement was welcomed as a significant step in regional integration and economic collaboration. The Crown Prince emphasized the importance of the people-centered dimension of ASEAN-GCC cooperation, focusing on education, knowledge exchange, and cultural celebration as foundations for a resilient partnership.
The statement concluded with a call for deepened collaboration to navigate future challenges and achieve a safer, more prosperous future for all.