At the opening of the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, a city in northeast China, one of the distinguished guests was 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. He is one of the first foreign heads of state China has received since the Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year.
Despite having made a dozen trips to China in the past, this visit by His Majesty is particularly noteworthy. After all, Brunei is a tropical nation with an average annual temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. Yet His Majesty still traveled to Harbin specifically to attend the opening ceremony of the Games, further reinforcing the long-standing warm ties between the two Asian nations.
As close neighbors, the Chinese and Bruneians have been visiting each other for centuries. In 1408, Sultan Abdul Majid Hassan traveled to China to meet the Yongle emperor. He was received with great hospitality. Unfortunately, the Sultan fell ill and was laid to rest in Nanjing. Today, many Chinese and Bruneian visitors continue to pay respects at his tomb. Nanjing and Bandar Seri Begawan are now sisters, symbolizing the enduring bond between the two nations.
Their time-honored friendship is sustained by shared values of Asian nations. Just as Brunei—where snow and ice are absent—has many people who love winter sports, both countries dare to dream big and work hard. Their deep-seated belief in diligence, respectfulness and responsibility has not only fostered mutual understanding, but also driven prosperity.
Consider how Brunei has created one of the highest living standards in the world for its citizens, with outstanding systems of education and medical care, a beautiful environment, and a peaceful society that has become its standout feature.
A resource-rich nation, Brunei has also effectively diversified its economy. Its non-oil and gas sector as a share of real GDP has increased from 20 percent in 2003 to 53.6 percent in 2023, according to the IMF.
China has been a great partner in this critical transformation. The PMB (Pulau Muara Besar) world-class facility, jointly developed by China’s Zhejiang Hengyi Group and the government of Brunei, plays a crucial role in refining and exporting petrochemical products. This helps grow downstream industries and reduces reliance on selling crudes. Hengyi’s procurement of local goods and services fosters a robust ecosystem, enabling Bruneian businesses to develop skill and expertise in diverse areas.
The PMB, before Hengyi arrived, was an undeveloped island, littered with ordnance from WWII. The pioneering work was challenging: clearing the site, removing unexploded devices, dredging navigation channels, and establishing essential infrastructure.
Chinese and Bruneians working side by side did it with dedication and mutual respect. While clearing the island, the Chinese team discovered a royal cemetery and a local villagers’ cemetery. To protect these sites, they hired local construction companies and invited an imam to conduct rituals to soothe the spirits of the deceased.
In their commitment to environmental stewardship, Hengyi worked closely with Brunei’s environmental authorities, professional consultants, and Universiti Brunei Darussalam to develop comprehensive relocation plans, and established six monitoring stations around the island to report daily environmental data. From their initial visit to the island in 2012 to driving the first pile in 2017, the Chinese company spent six years transforming a swampy, uninhabited island into an environmentally friendly and fully equipped industrial base.
With production in full swing, the two sides also began to upskill the young. Since 2014, young Bruneians have been participating in a joint program created by Hengyi to become petrochemical professionals. They learn the fundamentals in Universiti Brunei Darussalam, then acquire specialized knowledge at China’s Zhejiang University. Upon completing their degrees and overseas study certificate, they enter hands-on internships at Hengyi Industries. Successful interns are offered permanent positions.
In my quest to identify the common thread behind the shared values of Brunei and China, the practise of Silat in Brunei caught my attention. Silat, a traditional martial art in Southeast Asia, demands discipline, agility, and perseverance and upholds an oath to protect the community. This resonates strongly with Chinese Kungfu, which emphasizes diligence and resilience.
In a world fraught with turmoil and unpredictability, the shared Asian values embodied in the hard work, ethical conduct, and collective well-being of both Silat and Kungfu will continue to empower Asians.
(Yi Xin is a Beijing-based international affairs commentator.)
