A regional association of Southeast Asian nations held a three-way summit on Tuesday with China and six Persian Gulf countries in efforts to expand economic engagement and bolster resilience as they grapple with a volatile global trading system due to US tariff hikes. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the inaugural summit in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur would open up a new chapter of dialogue and cooperation.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and China collectively have a combined GDP of nearly USD 25 billion and a market of over 2 billion people, offering vast opportunities to synergise their markets and promote cross-regional investment, he said. “I am confident that ASEAN, the GCC, and China can draw upon our unique attributes and shape a future that is more connected, more resilient, and more prosperous,” he told the summit, attended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang.