China, Brunei pledge further strategic cooperation

Top diplomatic officials from China and Brunei on Thursday pledged to further boost strategic cooperation between the two nations and push forward ties between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN).

The remarks were made at a meeting between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade YB Phein Dato Lim Jock Seng.

At the meeting, Wang said Brunei is a reliable and sincere friend and partner of China, and China highly values the strategic cooperative relationship between the two countries.

The mutual respect and support between China and Brunei, which are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic relations this year, has set a great example of equal treatment and mutually beneficial cooperation between big powers and smaller nations, he said.

Wang pointed out that the two countries are especially complementary in cooperation as both are facing the task of economic restructuring and upgrading, as well as accelerating sustainable development.

Therefore, at this point, the two sides should work to inject fresh momentum into their pragmatic bilateral cooperation to open up new prospect for the China-Brunei strategic cooperative relationship, he said.

Wang proposed that the two sides should maintain high-level exchanges to constantly push forward bilateral ties and show support on major issues concerning each other's core interests.

Wang called for further pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, noting that China is willing to promote the synergy between the China-proposed 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and Brunei's "Vision 2035" to help Brunei with economic diversification.

Wang said China will encourage its enterprises to invest in Brunei, expand cooperation in infrastructure construction and financial sectors, and boost the construction of the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor.

China supports enterprises from both countries to cooperate in the integration of the petrochemical industry and is also willing to back Brunei to play a central role in the East ASEAN Growth Area, he said.

China and Brunei should promote cultural exchanges to deepen the friendship between the two peoples, said Wang, adding that the two sides should also enhance dialogue and cooperation in global affairs like combating climate change and ensuring sustainable development.

China supports and advocates the "dual-track" approach on dealing with the South China Sea issue which was first put forward by Brunei, said the Chinese foreign minister.

As an important ASEAN member, Brunei has long been pushing forward the development of China-ASEAN ties and made positive and significant contribution in this regard, Wang said.

"China is willing to work with ASEAN for the summit to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations this year and maintain the good momentum of the development of China-ASEAN ties."

Among ASEAN's ties with major countries around the world, the China-ASEAN ties are of the earliest, the deepest, most potential and most promising, the Chinse foreign minister said.

For his part, Lim Jock Seng said Brunei and China have a long history of exchanges and have enjoyed close relations.

Brunei is willing to join hands with China to further deepen strategic cooperation and maintain high-level exchanges between the two sides, boost pragmatic cooperation in the fields of infrastructure construction, finance and petrochemical industry and expand exchanges in tourism, Chinese medicine and youth, he said.

Brunei will always uphold the one-China policy, Lim Jock Seng noted.

Brunei appreciates the important leadership role China has played in meeting the challenges posed by climate change and sustainable development, and is willing to strengthen coordination with China in international affairs, said the minister.

"The ASEAN-China ties are vital to ASEAN, and Brunei is willing to work hard to push forward the development of ASEAN-China ties."

Brunei has always maintained that related disputes should be resolved through dialogues and consultations by the parties directly involved and the countries outside the region should support their efforts, he added.

The Chinese foreign minister is on a five-day trip to visit Brunei, Cambodia and Laos from April 20 to 24. Endit