[China and Brunei]
In 2013, the People's Republic of China and Negara Brunei Darussalam further strengthened their friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields and brought their bilateral relations to a new height.
The two countries enjoyed frequent high-level exchanges. In October, Premier Li Keqiang paid an official visit to Brunei and held talks with His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. During his visit, the two sides issued the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and Brunei Darussalam. They agreed to further strengthen cooperation in political, economic and trade, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, fishery, defense, education, culture and other fields. In May, Foreign Minister Wang Yi paid an official visit to Brunei. In April, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah paid a state visit to China. President Xi Jinping held talks with him, and Premier Li Keqiang and NPC Chairman Zhang Dejiang had separate meetings with him. During his visit, the two countries issued the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and Brunei Darussalam, and elevated their bilateral ties to a strategic cooperative relationship. In February, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, visited China. In May, Princess Masna, Ambassador at Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited China. In January, Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Dato Seri Mohammad Yasmin, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, visited China.
Energy cooperation further deepened. The two sides signed the Cooperation Agreement Between China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Brunei National Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad on Joint Venture in Drilling Rigs, Joint Feasibility Study on the Integrated Marine Supply Base in Pulau Muara Besar and People Training and Development and the Joint Venture Agreement on Oil Field Services Between China National Offshore Oil Corporation and Petroleum Brunei. The petrochemical project in Brunei invested by Zhejiang Hengyi Group Co., Ltd was approved by the two governments and entered the designing phase. Relevant companies of the two countries also had active discussions on the joint exploration and development of offshore oil and gas resources.
Exchange and cooperation in all areas were further boosted. China actively supported the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Military Medicine Exercise, the second ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus and the Brunei International Defence Exhibition hosted by Brunei. Smooth progress was made in the assistance project of Chinese young volunteers for Brunei. The art troupe "Cultures of China, Festival of Spring" performed in Brunei.
Active efforts were made to advance regional cooperation. China actively supported Brunei's chairmanship of ASEAN and worked with countries in this region, including Brunei, to vigorously expand practical cooperation on economy and trade, investment, connectivity, maritime issues and people-to-people exchanges, and to pursue new and important progress in China-ASEAN relations and East Asia cooperation.
Editor:Yaling
