Gulf Arab states already enjoy robust and well-established trade relations with East Asia, especially in the energy sector. These ties are emerging as the basis for expanded cooperation in other areas, including military and intelligence collaboration, arms sales, and technology transfers, in particular with China. For many East Asian countries, dependence on oil and gas imports is a strategic and security concern. Expanding and consolidating economic, diplomatic, and military ties to East Asia is, similarly, a key element of foreign policy strategy for several of the GCC countries.

On February 28, AGSIW hosted a closed workshop on economic and political relations between the GCC countries and East Asia followed by a public panel discussion.

Speakers
Chas W. Freeman, Senior Fellow, Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University
Haihong Gao, Director, Research Centre for International Finance, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Mohammed Al-Sudairi, Research Fellow, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies
Bingbing Wu, Director, Institute of Arab-Islamic Culture, Peking University
Hussein Ibish, Senior Resident Scholar, AGSIW (Moderator)