China-ASEAN-GCC summit quiet development revolution

Against the backdrop of the rising unilateralism, protectionism and turmoil in the world, the contemporary value of the Bandung Spirit has become more prominent. Chinese Premier Li Qiang reinforced this enduring principle during his address at the Indonesia-China Business Reception 2025 on Saturday, ahead of his participation in the ASEAN(the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)-GCC(the Gulf Cooperation Council)-China Summit in Malaysia from Monday to Wednesday. His message echoed the same vital truth that guided nations seven decades ago: true progress comes through solidarity forged in dialogue, development achieved through cooperation, and prosperity.

Premier Li emphasized that China and Indonesia have consistently adhered to the Bandung Spirit, engaging in comprehensive and pragmatic cooperation. China-Indonesia cooperation has reached a new level, with bilateral trade expanding in scale and quality.

Li highlighted that China's technological advancements in AI, robotics, and biomedicine are driving innovation across industries and providing new opportunities for global collaboration. Moreover, China's push for high-end, intelligent, and green manufacturing upgrades presents significant opportunities for joint supply chain development.

The world stands at a crossroads. Geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and zero-sum mentalities threaten to unravel decades of economic progress.

China's commitment to this vision is evident in its engagement with ASEAN and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Rather than imposing dominance, Beijing champions consultation, whether in bridging infrastructure gaps, stabilizing trade or fostering green innovation. For example, China and ASEAN jointly announced on Tuesday the official conclusion of talks for the Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area. It encompasses both existing fields under the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area agreement and emerging sectors with significant potential for cooperation, including the digital economy, green economy, supply chain connectivity, trade facilitation.

In December 2022, the first China-GCC summit was held in Saudi Arabia. China pledged to work with GCC countries to prioritize cooperation in energy, finance and investment, innovation, science and technology, aerospace, as well as language and cultural fields.

China and GCC countries are natural partners of cooperation with strong economic complementarities, as China has a vast consumer market and a complete industrial system, while the GCC, with rich energy resources, is embracing diversified economic development.

The inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit marks a pivotal moment in South-South cooperation, bringing together three major economic forces of the Global South. What makes this partnership unique is its rejection of bloc confrontation in favor of pragmatic synergy.

The ASEAN-GCC-China partnership embodies a quiet revolution in international relations: one where development is not dictated but co-created, where growth is not extracted but multiplied. Amid the complex global landscape, this trilateral dialogue carries profound significance as the three parties explore pathways toward greater solidarity, cooperative development and shared prosperity while advancing cross-regional collaboration.

China stands ready to deepen substantive cooperation with ASEAN and GCC nations across multiple domains, capitalizing on the three sides' complementary strengths to deliver tangible mutual benefits. Just as a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said, "We are committed to strengthening the multilateral trade framework and protecting the collective interests of developing nations in pursuit of common development goals."