US tariff hikes, Myanmar war, sea disputes will top ASEAN summit agenda

THE civil war in Myanmar, maritime disputes in the South China Sea and US tariff hikes will top the agenda of a two-day Southeast Asian summit next week, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said.

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The meeting in Malaysia, the current chair of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, on Monday will be followed by a summit on Tuesday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang and leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

The GCC already has strong links with the US and "wants to be close to China too," Anwar said.

"We want to have that synergy to enhance trade investments, more effective collaboration," Anwar said in a media briefing late Wednesday.