The Sultanate is an important link on the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Since the signing of the bilateral Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation agreement in 2017, it has brought fruitful results, said Ambassador of China to Brunei Darussalam Xiao Jianguo in his welcoming remarks at the award presentation to winners of the 5th Brunei Primary School Students Painting Competition, themed ‘The Belt and Road Initiative’, as well as the the launch of an exhibition of their artworks yesterday at OneCity Shopping Centre atrium.
The Ambassador said, “Flagship projects, such as Hengyi Industries and Muara Port, have increased employment opportunities, expanded the industrial chain, and injected more impetus into Brunei’s efforts in achieving economic diversification and Brunei Vision 2035.
“From the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge, co-constructed by China State Construction Engineering Cooperation, the commercial 5G launched by Huawei, to the new progress of Brunei’s agricultural and fishery products exported to China, and the planting of hybrid rice donated by China in Temburong District, the connotation of practical cooperation between the two countries has continuously been enriched.
“Programmes such as China Day, Chinese Bookshelf and Chinese Ambassador Award, initiated and organised by the embassy, have built up the platform for Bruneians to learn more about China and promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. These are achievements under the BRI framework, and such stories are too numerous to mention.”
The envoy continued, “I believe that with the joint efforts of both sides, the high-quality, sustainable and beneficial-to-people BRI cooperation between the two countries will ensure a better future.”
The ambassador also said that 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the BRI put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Over the past decade, he said, “The BRI has evolved from ideas into actions, from a vision into reality. China has signed over 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organisations.
“The BRI has synergised with the development strategies of over 30 countries and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and established more than 3,000 cooperation projects and galvanised nearly USD1 trillion investment.” – James Kon
