Asian Angle | Why Malaysia seeks enduring Asean-GCC-China cooperation
Malaysia’s history as a global bridge drives this new trilateral forum, mirroring historical trade routes from China to the Middle East
The summit attracted extensive media coverage. Some lauded it as a “significant diplomatic first” and a platform ripe with immense economic promise and geostrategic weight. Others dismissed it as “more symbolism than substance”.
The true significance of the initiative is perhaps best understood through Malaysia’s long-standing ambition to serve as a bridge between different regions and civilisations. In bringing this latest forum to life – one in the ever-expanding constellation of Asean-led mechanisms – Malaysia’s leadership and national interests were plainly evident.
But a deeper, often overlooked impetus lies in the imperative to connect past and present.
