A new strategic economic platform — the ASEAN–China–GCC Business Council — has been successfully established, marking a major step forward in fostering deeper collaboration among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the People’s Republic of China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The council’s first working committee meeting was convened online on Monday, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing trade, investment and industrial development across the three regions. (The Star)
A Strategic Tripartite Platform for Business Engagement
The inaugural working committee meeting brought together representatives from the three founding business organisations:
- Malaysia–China Business Council (MCBC) — representing ASEAN business interests;
- China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) — representing China;
- Federation of GCC Chambers — representing the Gulf Cooperation Council economies. (The Star)
The discussions emphasised the council’s strategic role as a tripartite platform that will:
- Advance cross-regional business cooperation;
- Promote trade and investment flows across East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East;
- Facilitate industrial linkages and value-chain development among ASEAN, China and the GCC. (The Star)
Council members agreed that the new business platform will serve as an important strategic mechanism to generate tangible outcomes for enterprises and strengthen economic connectivity across three dynamic economic regions.
Preparation for Inaugural ASEAN–China–GCC Business Council Forum
Participants at the working committee meeting also discussed preparations for the inaugural ASEAN–China–GCC Business Council Forum, which will be held in China later in 2026.
The forum is expected to:
- Bring together business leaders from ASEAN member states, GCC countries and China;
- Provide a dedicated platform for dialogue on key economic cooperation areas;
- Support business matching and investment facilitation activities aimed at unlocking new commercial opportunities. (The Star)
Regional Significance and Context
The formation of the ASEAN–China–GCC Business Council builds on expanding multilateral cooperation among the three regions, following the inaugural ASEAN–China–GCC Summit held in Kuala Lumpur in 2025. That historic summit laid the groundwork for deeper economic and strategic linkages by uniting ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council and China around shared goals of broader trade, investment and development cooperation. (State Council of China)
Leaders at the summit recognised the complementary economic strengths of the three parties — including ASEAN’s dynamic markets and supply chain capacity, China’s manufacturing and technological base, and the GCC’s energy resources and capital — and underlined the potential for cooperation to enhance regional economic resilience and shared prosperity. (Xinhua News)
Quote
“The establishment of the ASEAN–China–GCC Business Council represents a significant milestone in advancing cross-regional economic cooperation. By bringing business communities together from Southeast Asia, the Gulf and China, we are creating a platform that will unlock new opportunities for trade, investment and sustainable industrial development.”
— MCBC Representative
Notes to Editors
- The ASEAN–China–GCC Business Council’s first working committee meeting was convened online on 26 January 2026. (The Star)
- The ASEAN–China–GCC Business Council Forum will be the first of its kind to gather business leaders from the tripartite regions for high-level dialogue and cooperation. (The Star)
- The trilateral cooperation mechanism is part of ongoing efforts to translate the outcomes of the ASEAN–China–GCC Summit into concrete business engagements and economic linkages that benefit enterprises across multiple regions. (State Council of China)
