 ASEAN–GCC–China Summit opens on May 27, 2025. (Photo: VOV) |
"That's what I made clear… to continue to engage both with the United States and China, at the same time with other countries," he said, rejecting claims that the bloc is “tilting” towards China.
The Malaysian Prime Minister said he wrote to US President Donald Trump for a joint summit with the bloc, which may take place in the coming months.
ASEAN is ready to admit Timor Leste as an official member and if favorable, at the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October, he added.
On Tuesday, ASEAN leaders took part in the inaugural ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council-China Summit, which marks a new era of cooperation between three major economic regions.
The summit was an opportunity to boost cross-regional innovation and investment. Currently, the combined GDP of ASEAN, the GCC, and China is approaching 24.9 trillion USD.