Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, opening a summit in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Co-operation Council, said a stronger ASEAN-GCC relationship would be key to enhancing inter-regional collaboration, building resilience and securing sustainable prosperity.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang will join the two blocs in their first such meeting on Tuesday as Beijing seeks to present itself as a reliable ally to the region.
"I believe the ASEAN-GCC partnership has never been more important than it is today, as we navigate an increasingly complex global landscape marked by economic uncertainty and geopolitical challenges," Anwar said.
Malaysia is the current chair of ASEAN, which also includes Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Kuwait's Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah said the two blocs, which held their first summit in Riyadh in 2023, would build on their momentum to deepen co-operation and "improve our ability to face crisis".
He said the GCC was ASEAN's seventh-largest trade partner, with total trade reaching $US130.7 billion ($A201.6 billion) in 2023.
The GCC comprises the oil-producing nations of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Anwar said last week the GCC already had strong links with the US and "wants to be close to China too".
ASEAN has maintained a policy of neutrality, engaging both Beijing and the United States, but US President Donald Trump's threats sweeping tariffs came as a blow.
Six of the bloc's members were among the worst hit, with tariffs between 32 per cent and 49 per cent.
Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs in April for most of the world, and this month struck a similar deal with key rival China, easing trade war tensions.
Anwar is seeking an ASEAN summit with Trump on the tariffs.
Collins Chong Yew Keat, a foreign affairs, strategy and security analyst with Universiti Malaya, said ASEAN was seen as tilting towards China and had failed to take strong action against Beijing's aggression in the disputed South China Sea.
ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have overlapping claims with China, which asserts sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea.
While relying on US defence support, ASEAN was increasing reliance and partnership with China and other US rivals, Chong said.
"If this continues under the current Trump administration, it will create further room for Washington to distance itself from the region, which will spell disaster and create an even deeper Chinese presence," he said.
