ASEAN and GCC foreign ministers discussed cooperation and preparations for upcoming regional summit.
The ASEAN–Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting was held on 23 September 2026 in New York, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Week. The meeting was co-chaired by Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, and Bahrain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, to discuss the future direction of ASEAN–GCC relations and regional and international developments.
Foreign Ministers and representatives from ASEAN and GCC Member States participated in the meeting. Discussions included preparations for the Third ASEAN-GCC Summit, alongside an exchange of views on developments affecting the two regions.
The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between ASEAN and the GCC and highlighted the importance of maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity. Participants underscored the role of dialogue and diplomacy, as well as respect for international law, in supporting these objectives.
The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to practical cooperation in several areas of mutual interest. These included trade and investment, energy security, digital transformation, supply chain resilience and connectivity.
Other areas identified for continued cooperation included tourism, education, sustainability, disaster management and humanitarian assistance. The discussions reflected the breadth of the ASEAN–GCC partnership and the range of sectors in which both sides are seeking to advance practical engagement.
The meeting took place as ASEAN and GCC Member States participated in the UNGA High-Level Week in New York, providing an opportunity for senior representatives from both regional groupings to exchange views on shared priorities and preparations for the next stage of ASEAN–GCC engagement.
Source: ASEAN
