On February 6, 2025, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei paid a state visit to China. This visit not only deepened the traditional friendship between the two countries but also injected new momentum into the enhancement of their strategic cooperative partnership, opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.
Historically, Brunei has been an important part of the Maritime Silk Road, maintaining close economic and cultural exchanges with China. In 2013, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative, to which Brunei responded positively and offered strong support. Over the years, the two governments have signed a series of cooperation documents, promoting the deep integration of the Belt and Road Initiative with Brunei's "Wawasan Brunei 2035" vision, achieving significant practical cooperation results. Sultan Hassanal's visit to China further elevated the bilateral relationship to new heights.
During the visit, the heads of state engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as deepening the strategic cooperative partnership and advancing the construction of a Chinese-Brunei community of shared future, reaching broad consensus. The traditional friendship between China and Brunei has a long history. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the two countries have continuously deepened political mutual trust, actively aligned development strategies, and achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation across various fields. These achievements are evident not only in the economic sector but also in politics, culture, education, and other areas, showcasing the profound friendship and mutual trust between the two nations.
In the economic field, China and Brunei's trade cooperation has yielded remarkable results. Over the past decade, bilateral trade has grown rapidly, with China becoming Brunei's second-largest source of investment and one of its top three trading partners. The two countries have engaged in practical cooperation in sectors such as petrochemicals, ports, and agriculture, establishing flagship projects like Hengyi Petrochemical and Muara Port.
Among these, Hengyi Petrochemical, as a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative, has played a significant role in Brunei's economic structural transformation and diversification. This project has not only created numerous employment opportunities but also stimulated the development of related local industries, earning praise from the Brunei government as the "key to unlocking Brunei's industrialization."
Muara Port, another important project of Chinese-Brunei cooperation, has achieved significant operational results, with its location advantages and port competitiveness continually improving. In 2023, the launch of a direct shipping route from Muara Port to Qinzhou Port in Guangxi established a new "trade artery" connecting the western land-sea new corridor with the ASEAN East Growth Area, further promoting regional economic prosperity and development.
In the cultural and people-to-people exchange sector, China and Brunei have increasingly frequent interactions. The two countries have engaged in rich and diverse exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, religion, tourism, health, sports, and other areas. Hengyi Group has partnered with local universities to cultivate petrochemical professionals for Brunei; individuals from various sectors in Brunei have participated in multi-industry technical training in China, further solidifying the public and social foundation of Chinese-Brunei relations. Additionally, the Chinese Embassy in Brunei has established the "Chinese Ambassador's Award" and organized events such as "China Day" and the Chinese Arts Festival, providing platforms for the Brunei people to perceive and understand China. These cultural exchange activities have not only enhanced mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries but also laid a solid public foundation for the long-term development of bilateral relations.
In their discussions, both sides agreed to further deepen economic and trade investment cooperation, advance the construction of the "Guangxi-Brunei Economic Corridor," and strengthen exchanges and technical cooperation in areas such as agriculture, halal food, and aquaculture. They expressed their intention to continue utilizing platforms like the China International Import Expo and the China-ASEAN Expo to enhance business exchanges and cooperation, jointly promoting the sustained and healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations.
Sultan Hassanal's visit to China has not only deepened the traditional friendship between the two countries but also injected new vitality into the enhancement of their strategic cooperative partnership. It is believed that under the leadership of the heads of state, the friendly cooperative relationship between China and Brunei will continue to reach new heights, bringing more benefits to the peoples of both countries and making greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity.
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