Having established relations in 1990, this is the first summit between ASEAN and the GCC since they adopted a joint vision in 2009. The event is an important milestone in elevating the cooperation between the two regional organisations to a new height to meet the demands of both sides.
ASEAN-GCC relations began in 1990 when the Foreign Minister of Oman, in his role as Chairman of the GCC Council of Ministers, expressed the GCC's wish to establish formal relations with ASEAN. That same year, ASEAN and GCC Foreign Ministers met for the first time on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York (the US).
The two secretariats of ASEAN and GCC officially established relations in 2009. The two sides maintain contact and have so far organised three official ASEAN-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meetings, in 2009, 2010, and 2013.
GCC member countries are interested in strengthening cooperation with ASEAN and have sent ambassadors to ASEAN and joined the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). ASEAN has also established ASEAN Committees in the capitals of all GCC member countries.
As a leading regional organisation in the Middle East, the GCC is promoting its Look East policy and paying close attention to Southeast Asia. All six GCC member countries are Vietnam's priority cooperation partners in the Middle East and Africa, with relationships spanning many fields of politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, ODA, and labour.
As a core member of ASEAN, Vietnam has always promoted the spirit of initiative, positivity, and responsibility, effectively contributing to strengthening relations between ASEAN and the GCC, thereby contributing to promoting Vietnam-GCC relations as well as relations between Vietnam and each GCC member country.
In 2018, Vietnam took on the role of coordinating ASEAN-GCC relations and successfully co-chaired the ASEAN-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly. At this meeting, the two sides affirmed their commitment to expanding and deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as trade, investment, energy security, and food.
Relations between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia have seen positive developments in recent years. The two sides maintain delegation exchanges and high-level contacts. Saudi Arabia wants to promote comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, considering Vietnam a priority partner in the implementation of its Look East foreign policy.
Saudi Arabia is Vietnam's leading trade partner in the Middle East region, with two-way trade in 2022 reaching more than 2.7 billion USD, an increase of 32.4% compared to 2021. Some large corporations of Saudi Arabia have invested in Vietnam, mainly in the fields of real estates, energy, and steel. The Saudi Arabia Development Fund has provided preferential loans totalling more than 181 million USD for 13 Vietnamese projects.
The ASEAN-GCC Summit takes place in a context where the world and regional situation is continuing to have rapid and complicated movements. This is an opportunity for ASEAN to deepen relations with the GCC and member countries of important regional organisations in the Middle East, to mobilise all resources to build the Community, promote recovery and sustainable development, creating a favourable environment for dialogue and cooperation.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attending the ASEAN-GCC Summit is a practical activity to consistently deploy the Party and State's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation for development, multilateral and diversified relations; as well as to proactively, comprehensively, and extensively integrate internationally, while deepening relationships.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Saudi Arabia contributes to strengthening political trust, deepening multifaceted cooperation, bringing the cooperation between the two countries in a substantial and effective manner.
The trip made by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has an important meaning, not only does it show the new spirit of independence, solidarity, and development with ASEAN countries, but it also strengthens political trust and improves the effectiveness of cooperation between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia; delivering a message of strong commitment and responsible contribution of a peaceful, sincere, trustworthy Vietnam, ready to strengthen friendly relations, dialogue, and mutually beneficial cooperation, building a regional and international environment for peace and stability with other countries.
