The sun and moon advance, and the times usher in a prosperous new year. As the Chinese New Year is celebrated, on behalf of the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, I would like to extend my warm Spring Festival greetings and best wishes to the overseas Chinese in Brunei, staff at Chinese enterprises and institutions, volunteer teachers, international students, and Bruneian friends from all walks of life who care and support China-Brunei relations.
Over the past year, we have celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the founding of China and successfully convened the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, opening up broad prospects for Chinese modernisation by further deepening reform comprehensively. China’s economy has rebounded, with new quality productive forces taking shape at a faster pace, green and low-carbon development gaining momentum, and new business sectors, forms as well as models keeping emerging. China has made steady progress in building a great modern socialist country, and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Our new development continues to bring new impetus and opportunities to the world. Foreign friends have visited China to witness with their own eyes a picture of China where traditional culture and contemporary civilisation complement each other.
Over the past year, China-Brunei relations have made great strides under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state. 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 H.E. President Xi Jinping have maintained communication to navigate the development of bilateral relations. Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna binti Al-Mahrum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam visited China and Vice President Han Zheng visited Brunei. The high-level political mutual trust between the two sides has taken root. China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Brunei’s Vision 2035 have been deeply connected and advanced, and people-to-people exchanges kept growing vigorously. China and Brunei continue to be at the forefront of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which not only benefits the people of the two countries, but also injects strong and positive energy into the regions development.
Over the past year, my colleagues and I have had in-depth communication and exchanges with friends from all walks of life in Brunei. We visited many places, witnessing Hengyi Industries operating around the clock, giant container ships crisscrossing the Muara Port, hybrid rice planting yielding a bumper harvest, C909 aircraft landing in the Abode of Peace, Brunei martial arts athletes achieving a series of awards, and Chinese culture fever growing in the ascendant. I deeply feel the great enthusiasm of all walks of life in Brunei to deepen the cooperation of all areas between the two countries, and see the infinite vitality and huge potential of China-Brunei relations.
The fruitful results of China-Brunei relations are inseparable with joint efforts and hard work from all of you. Overseas Chinese living in Brunei uphold traditional virtues of the Chinese, cherishing their roots of and love for their hometowns, and making significant contributions to strengthening friendship, people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning between the two civilisations. Chinese enterprises have made unremitting efforts to contribute to the high-quality synergy of Belt and Road Initiative and Brunei Vision 2035. Chinese teachers and international students have become envoys of friendship between our two countries by teaching Chinese culture from their heart. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of you, and hope that in the new year, you will continue to care, support and participate in deepening China-Brunei friendship, write a vivid chapter for the great era, and contribute your own strength to bilateral relations.
This year is the Year of the Snake, and it is the first year that UNESCO has inscribed Spring Festival on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Let us wish common prosperity to China and Brunei, and long-lasting friendship between the two countries! May the world be peaceful and full of love, and may all our friends have good luck, happiness and well-being in the Year of the Snake!
