Anwar: Malaysia set to make history with inaugural ASEAN-Gulf leaders’ summit; China's premier expected to attend

BACHOK, April 12 (MYT) — Malaysia is poised to make history by hosting the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit, which will bring together all ASEAN nations and six Gulf countries, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced.

He said the landmark summit is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur this May.

“Alhamdulillah, our stable governance, peace, and strong economic growth have drawn global attention, leading to the decision to host the summit here,” Anwar said during the Kelantan state-level Aidilfitri Madani 2025 celebration at Pantai Irama today.

Anwar also shared that China has been invited to participate, highlighting Malaysia’s openness in engaging with all nations for the benefit of its people.

“InsyaAllah, by the end of May, Malaysia will once again make history as we host, for the first time, a summit uniting ASEAN heads of state with leaders from Gulf countries — Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman.

"We’ve also extended an invitation to China, and there’s a strong possibility that Premier Li Qiang will attend.”

Reaffirming Malaysia’s diplomatic stance, Anwar emphasized: “We maintain good relations with all our neighbors and remain committed to our people’s welfare — ensuring job opportunities and attracting investments, be it from the United States, the Arab world, or China.”

He went on to note that Malaysia is increasingly seen as a model by both developing and developed nations, particularly in economic management — a testament to the country’s sound fiscal and administrative policies.

“Alhamdulillah, many foreign leaders have expressed admiration for Malaysia’s economic stability and investment-friendly environment.

"We are not just making promises, but delivering real results — through solid economic growth and effective inflation control,” he added. — Bernama