St. Regis - In a significant bilateral meeting, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam met with His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China. The meeting, held at St. Regis, was attended by His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Mateen and focused on strengthening the partnership between the two nations.
According to Radio Television Brunei, His Majesty highlighted that 2023 marks the 5th Anniversary of the Strategic Cooperative Partnership between Brunei Darussalam and the People's Republic of China. His Majesty expressed enthusiasm for continuing to enhance the long-standing goodwill and friendship between the two countries. The meeting covered various areas of bilateral relations, including progress in trade and investment, agriculture and fisheries, education, and people-to-people exchanges. His Majesty also acknowledged the expansion of cooperation into big data and artificial intelligence.
His Majesty informed about the completion of Phase 1 of the Hengyi project and the commencement of Phase 2, with the agreement signed on 8th November 2023. Expressing hope for its completion by the year's end, His Majesty thanked China for its support. Additionally, His Majesty appreciated the scholarships and training provided by Hengyi, which have been instrumental in building Brunei's technical capacity and human capital. His Majesty also expressed interest in tapping into China's expertise in renewable energy and green initiatives, and exploring further exports of agriculture and fisheries products to China.
Emphasizing the importance of resuming travel between Brunei and China, His Majesty noted that it would bolster tourism sectors in both countries. On the South China Sea, His Majesty stressed the necessity for peaceful and stable conditions, advocating for peaceful dialogue and consultations based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, to address regional tensions.
His Majesty looked forward to working closely with China in negotiating a meaningful Code of Conduct for the South China Sea that could serve as an international example of collective intentions towards peace and security.
His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China, highlighted the enduring friendship between the two nations. On the 5th anniversary of the Strategic Cooperative Partnership, China expressed readiness to advance bilateral ties and promote high-quality cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative. The leaders also discussed mutual regional matters, including East Asia Cooperation, Brunei's role as a hub for the BIMP-EAGA region, and China's accession to the CPTPP. Both leaders expressed concern over the ongoing violence in the Gaza Strip and supported a two-state solution.