 This year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Dialogue Partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.
In an exclusive interview with CRI, Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, says his country values its friendship with China, and will work with China to further strengthen cooperation in all fields. CRI’s Cheng Hao reports from Bandar Seri Begawan:
Reporter:
Lim Jock Seng says although Brunei and China established diplomatic relations in 1991, the two countries have already enjoyed traditionally close and time-honored friendship for centuries. One example is the recent launch of "The Collection of Historical Documents Related to Bilateral Relations between China and Brunei Darussalam".
Speaking highly of the remarkable achievements scored in various fields, Lim Jock Seng says China-Brunei relationship has "set a good example" to state-to-state relationship between big and small nations on the basis of equality, sincere cooperation and harmonious coexistence:
“For the last 15 years we have evolved. We have increased our trade. We have lots of visits by your leaders. So overall, both bilaterally and regionally I think we’ve seen tremendous progress.”
Commenting on China’s economic rise as well as the so-called potential “threat” to its neighbors, Lim Jock Seng says a stronger China has significantly contributed to the peace, stability and prosperity in the region and in the world at large:
“You have actually made tremendous contribution to the economic development of our region, particularly in the economic crisis 1997. Your economic development of the last 10 years is tremendous and it has been the engine of the economic development in other part of the world.”
In the field of economics and trade, Lim Jock Seng says Brunei is committed to explore new opportunities with China, expanding cooperation projects from energy and recourses to various other fields:
“Tourism, agriculture-based industries, fishing industry, there are the areas where China has got expertise. We were very pleased to bring in some of your companies to come and help us.”
Lim Jock Seng says Brunei encourages its private enterprises to invest in China, and has conducted studies looking for new investment potentials in the world’s largest market. What’s more, a direct flight from Brunei to Shanghai has recently been re-opened in an effort to boost tourism cooperation.
Cheng Hao, CRI News, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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