Manila – The upcoming ASEAN-GCC summit in Riyadh is expected to bolster Saudi-Philippine relations as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strengthen their ties. The Saudi Arabian envoy to Manila, Ambassador Hisham bin Sultan Al-Qahtani, expressed optimism about the positive impact of the summit on bilateral relations between the Kingdom and the Philippines.
The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE. In recent years, these nations have been increasingly engaging with ASEAN, a political and economic union of ten Southeast Asian states, including the Philippines.
The first joint summit between the two blocs is scheduled to take place next week in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.
Ambassador Al-Qahtani stated, “The upcoming meeting of the GCC and ASEAN countries, scheduled for October 20, 2023, in Riyadh, with the participation of the leaders of the states, is expected to emphasize the importance of enhancing political and strategic relations.”
He further highlighted that the summit aims to encourage trade and economic cooperation, promote joint investments, and foster mutual growth and development for both Saudi Arabia and the Philippines. The ambassador expressed confidence that the meeting would strengthen political, economic, and strategic ties between the two nations.
Leading the Philippine delegation to the summit will be President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who will be accompanied by key members of his Cabinet.
Ambassador Al-Qahtani revealed that several agreements are set to be signed on the sidelines of the summit, which will significantly enhance the existing bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.
He applauded the continuous development of Saudi-Philippine relations across various sectors, describing them as a model of successful political, cultural, and economic cooperation that promotes the exchange of expertise and knowledge, thereby enhancing regional and international peace and stability.
Trade between the two nations has been flourishing, with the Philippines emerging as an important export destination for the Kingdom. The country’s position as a trade partner for Saudi Arabia has been growing at an annual rate of 12.9 percent.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia plays a crucial role in attracting Filipino labor, occupying a leading position within the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Kingdom is home to over one million Filipino workers, whose remittances contributed a significant amount of $1 billion to the Philippine economy in 2022.
Ambassador Al-Qahtani emphasized that this economic contribution plays a vital role in the Philippines’ economic development and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes fostering economic growth and collaboration on a global scale.
As the ASEAN-GCC summit approaches, both Saudi Arabia and the Philippines anticipate building upon their strong bilateral relations, exploring new avenues of collaboration, and further strengthening their ties for mutual benefit and prosperity.
