Kuala Lumpur: In the ever-evolving landscape of global diplomacy, the upcoming ASEAN-GCC-China Summit scheduled for May 2025 is poised to serve as a pivotal meeting point for some of the world’s most influential regional organizations. The summit will bring together the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China, each adept at managing geopolitical dynamics without igniting friction.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the essence of this summit is not confrontation, but accommodation, focusing on energy needs and shifting power dynamics. ASEAN and GCC have matured into pragmatic diplomatic entities, serving as neutral convenors of competing powers such as China and the United States. These organizations, through their strategic neutrality, offer a platform for great powers to pursue influence without the risk of open hostility.
The summit’s agenda is expected to revolve around energy security and the transition to greener futures. The GCC remains a critical energy exporter, while ASEAN plays a significant role in LNG trade and green technology. China, as the world’s largest energy consumer and a frontrunner in green technology, alongside the United States, which must re-engage in global leadership, will find ASEAN and GCC pivotal regions where energy diplomacy and political foresight converge.
In this era of multipolarity with asymmetry, ASEAN and the GCC are uniquely positioned to facilitate recalibration of ambitions between China and the United States. The summit aims to create a new choreography, enabling the ebb and flow of great power ambitions without fostering a zero-sum game.
Key areas to watch during the summit include a renewed call for digital, physical, and institutional connectivity. China’s Digital Silk Road, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and ASEAN’s Master Plan on Connectivity are expected to be synergized. Additionally, discussions on new supply chain routes and critical minerals cooperation, especially in semiconductors, green hydrogen, and rare earths will be central to the agenda.
The summit may also serve as a subtle diplomatic circuit breaker, offering a forum for China and the United States to temper their tariff wars through third-party dialogue. Rather than being a response to any single power’s policy, the ASEAN-GCC-China Summit represents a collective foresight exercise. It signals that strategically positioned regions are no longer content to be mere arenas of competition; instead, they aim to be architects of global accommodation and stability.
As the world transitions to new geopolitical and economic realities, this summit underscores the importance of cooperation and coherence. The future belongs not to the loudest, but to those who can convene and collaborate effectively on the global stage.