KUALA LUMPUR, 27 May 2025 – History was made in Malaysia as ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China gathered for their first-ever trilateral summit. The two-day meeting, held from 26–27 May in Kuala Lumpur, brought together leaders from three of the world’s fastest-growing regions.
The summit, described by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as a “meeting of minds,” focused on stronger economic ties, trade, and investment. Together, these regions make up over 25% of the global economy and represent a population of more than two billion.
The new cooperation is being called the “Golden Triangle” – a powerful mix where the GCC provides energy and capital, ASEAN brings manufacturing and a young workforce, and China offers technology and a massive consumer base. The partnership aims to boost growth, improve digital and green technologies, and secure food and energy supplies.
This alliance also highlights a shift in global power. Many countries in the Global South want a fairer global system that isn’t controlled by just a few big nations. The summit showed that these countries are serious about working together to build a stronger, more balanced world economy.
With Malaysia playing a key role as host and ASEAN Chair, the summit positions Southeast Asia at the heart of future international cooperation.
