The One Belt One Road Initiative launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 has become the world’s largest, most extensive and most influential international economic cooperation platform. As a friendly neighbour of China, Brunei Darussalam is an important partner under the initiative.
Under the guidance of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang
Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and President Xi, China and Brunei have deepened the alignment of the One Belt One Road with Brunei Vision 2035, actively expanding all-round practical cooperation in recent years.
The importance of the initiative was shared by Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Xiao Jianguo in his remarks as the guest of honour at the Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association executive committee inauguration ceremony recently.
He also cited some of the major projects under the One Belt One Road in the Sultanate: “The second phase of the Hengyi Petrochemical project is progressing steadily, the expansion of the Muara Port has been successfully launched and direct shipping routes between Muara and Qinzhou in Beibu Gulf have been established.”
He also mentioned, “Hybrid rice trials have yielded results and a memorandum of understanding on agricultural and fisheries cooperation has been signed and implemented, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.”
He added, “Under the framework of the initiative, the two countries have also carried out cooperation in areas such as culture, education, tourism, sports and local exchanges, which has enhanced mutual understanding and friendship, building closer ties.”
The ambassador also emphasised that the Fourth Symposium on Belt and Road Construction Work was held, where President Xi emphasised that China will continue to promote high-quality Belt and Road co-construction, continuously expanding new areas of win-win development with higher levels, greater resilience and more sustainable development and help countries achieve modernisation and build a community with a shared future for mankind.”
He believes that under the leadership of Ang Kian Guan, the Brunei-China One Belt One Road Association will better serve as a bridge and link, continuously strengthening communication and exchanges between the governments, enterprises and civil societies of both countries and advancing higher-level, broader and deeper mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Brunei.
This will contribute even more to the shared prosperity and development of both countries, he said. – James Kon
