KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 -- Malaysia is using its Asean chairmanship to boost regional trade ties with Gulf nations and China, starting with two high-level summits in Kuala Lumpur this week.

At the second Asean-GCC Summit and the first Asean-GCC-China Summit, Malaysia will play a lead role in both as Asean Chair.

Senior press secretary to the Prime Minister Tunku Nashrul Abaidah said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has stressed that Malaysia is consequently responsible for driving the agenda.

"These trilateral engagements aim to strengthen economic cooperation and sustainable development across regions," he said in a press briefing today.

Asean and GCC already enjoy over US$130 billion in trade, and Malaysia hopes the upcoming summits will spur ...