According to Vietnamese media, the enhanced coordination between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China opens a historic opportunity to create a new space for interregional strategic cooperation.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the enhanced exchanges and coordination between ASEAN-GCC and China, which he defined as “the three main economic drivers of the world,” offering a historic opportunity to create a new space for interregional strategic cooperation for a prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable future.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister stressed the need to focus on trade cooperation, investment, and supply chain linkages, and to avoid politicizing science, technology, investment, and development. He also proposed giving high priority to strategic and advancement areas, especially now that ASEAN is about to finalize the Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which represents a “golden moment” to jointly build a connected, secure, and sustainable digital space.

The Prime Minister also suggested promoting the connectivity of the regional bloc’s electricity grid, developing and sharing green technology, renewable energy, and sustainable agricultural and food systems, as well as stable and sustainable food supply chains.

Minh Chinh suggested an effective use of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement, promoting a similar one between ASEAN and the GCC, and exploring the possibility of establishing a comprehensive tripartite economic cooperation mechanism, including an ASEAN-GCC-China Free Trade Agreement.

jrr/llp/oda/mpm