Roundtable Dialogue Between State Leader of Brunei and CEOs from China Successfully Held in Nanning

On 12 September 2017, the Roundtable Dialogue Between State Leader of Brunei and CEOs from China was successfully held in Nanning. His Majesty Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II of Brunei, Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Ibrahim, Minister at Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance II of Brunei, Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohammad Yasmin, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei, Dato Seri Paduka Dr Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance of Brunei, Mr. Jiang Zengwei, Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Mr. Peng Qinghua, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Mr. Wang Ke, Standing Member and Secretary General of CPC Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, H.E. Ms. Yang Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Brunei and government officials, entrepreneurs from both Brunei and China attended the Dialogue. H.E. Mme. Yang Xiuping, Secretary-General of ASEAN-China Centre (ACC), attended the Dialogue upon invitation.

Mr. Jiang Zengwei delivered opening remarks. He said that since China and Brunei established diplomatic relations, the bilateral relations have been developing steadily, and the cooperation in various fields has achieved remarkable results. In 2013, China and Brunei agreed to further boost strategic cooperative relations, which made the bilateral exchanges closer and closer. Brunei is an important country along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. Brunei’s Vision 2035 and the Belt and Road Initiative highly accord with each other, which provides new opportunities to enhance bilateral cooperation. The business community should seize the opportunity, deepen the integration of interests, achieve common development and benefit the people of both sides.

Secretary Peng Qinghua stated in his remarks that, Guangxi and Brunei face each other across the sea, and have unique advantages in cooperation. In 2014, the two sides inked a MoU to establish the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor, which is committed to implementing comprehensive cooperation in the areas of agriculture, industry, logistics, halal food processing, health care, pharmaceutical, biological medicine, tourism, and so on. He believed that His Majesty’s attendance in the 14th CAEXPO and interaction with the business community will bring new opportunities to the economic cooperation between the two countries. He hoped that the enterprises of both sides could strengthen matching with each other and find the proper starting point for cooperation, so as to inject new impetus to the building of the Belt and Road and the realization of Brunei Vision 2035.

His Majesty Hassanal Bolkiah said in his remarks that Brunei and China have a long history of trade relations. The two countries’ integration of interests has been deepening, and exchanges and cooperation between the enterprises have become closer and closer. Currently, Brunei is working to promote economic diversification, streamline administrative procedures, and create more conducive business environment, with an aim to strengthen investors’ confidence in Brunei. Chinese entrepreneurs are welcome to invest in Brunei. Guangxi and Brunei have special economic and trade ties. The two sides have vigorously carried out cooperation in the areas of port, fishery and clean energy, and have achieved fruitful results. With the joint efforts of both sides, the newly developed Brunei Muara Port is in operation, which will facilitate the cooperation in areas of logistics and connectivity between the two countries. Guangxi is competent in industrial, technology and management experiences, while Brunei could provide a channel to the Muslim market. The two sides should make good use of the economic corridor to enhance connectivity, and realize win-win results.

Mr. Yue Yi, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Ltd., Mr. Qiu Jianlin, Chairman of Zhejiang Hengyi Group Co., Ltd., Mr. Zhou Xiaoxi, Chairman of Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group Co., Ltd., and Mr. Wang Hui, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communication of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., briefed on the developments of their enterprises respectively, and consulted with His Majesty on the questions they concerned, which were replied patiently.