By AUFA MARDHIAH
SENIOR officials from ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China have concluded three key preparatory meetings today ahead of the ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China Summits, focusing on finalising outcome documents and the order of proceedings.
Speaking to the press post-meetings on May 23, Chief Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Ministry Datuk Seri Amran Mohamed Zin said the discussions were held involving senior officials from all participating regions.
“These three meetings were primarily focused on two aspects — preparation of summit proceedings and the finalisation of joint outcome documents.
“The ASEAN-GCC Summit is expected to produce two key documents: a joint statement and a joint declaration. The ASEAN-GCC-China Summit will yield one joint statement,” he said.
He confirmed that negotiations are still ongoing at the official level to finalise the text of these documents.
“This is the first time we are organising summits under both ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China formats. The aim is to ensure there are tangible and substantive outcome documents,” he added.
Asked whether there were concerns about the trilateral dynamics between ASEAN, GCC, and China, Amran said discussions remained constructive and focused.
“The aspiration across all meetings was clear — to produce meaningful outcomes. The spirit shown by all parties today, whether from ASEAN, the GCC or China, was very positive and forward-looking,” he added.
Amran noted that further discussions will be needed to finalise the issues to be included in the joint statements, but all sides had expressed a strong commitment to achieving consensus ahead of the leaders’ meetings.
The day featured a morning coordination session among ASEAN senior officials, followed by two afternoon meetings — ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China — and is set to conclude with a welcome dinner for senior officials from ASEAN and Timor-Leste, along with the ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General.
The summits, part of the 46th ASEAN Summit and ASEAN-GCC Economic Engagements, are expected to mark a significant step forward in inter-regional cooperation.
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