Gulf Leaders Arrive in Malaysia for ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China Summit

SEPANG (Selangor, Malaysia), May 26 (Bernama) – The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (picture) arrived in Malaysia tonight to attend the 2nd ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and the inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

The special aircraft carrying Sheikh Tamim landed at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), at 9.52 pm. He was welcomed by Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.

Earlier, Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs, Sayyid Asaad bin Tarik al Said, arrived with his delegation at 7.50 pm.

Sayyid Asaad, who is leading the Omani delegation on behalf of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, was received by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil and Oman’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Sheikh Al-Abbas Ibrahim Hamed Al Harthi.

Upon arrival, both leaders inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 28 officers and personnel from the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment, led by Capt Muhammad Firdaus Mat Hayin.

Qatar and Oman are members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Earlier in the day, Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman Hamad Al Khalifa, arrived at KLIA at 4.29 pm. He was welcomed by Higher Education Minister Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, and also inspected the ceremonial guard-of-honour.

In 2024, trade between Malaysia and Bahrain stood at RM1.19 billion, with exports valued at RM251.2 million and imports at RM943.3 million. Bahrain was Malaysia’s ninth-largest trading partner in West Asia last year.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal Farhan Al Saud, also arrived this evening. His aircraft landed at 6.50 pm and he was greeted by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Mohd Na’im Mokhtar.

The ASEAN-GCC and ASEAN-GCC-China Summits will be held tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, alongside the ongoing 46th ASEAN Summit which began today.

This is Malaysia’s fifth time chairing ASEAN, following previous chairmanships in 1977, 1997, 2005 and 2015.

– BERNAMA