On June 13, 2018, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks in Beijing with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof of Brunei, who was in China for an official visit.

Wang Yi expressed that China and Brunei are close neighbors across the sea as well as friends and partners with mutual trust. Bilateral relations have enjoyed fairly sound development, setting an example of equal treatment and harmonious co-existence between big and small countries. His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah paid a state visit to China last September, during which President Xi Jinping and he reached important consensus on the development of China-Brunei relations in the new period. Bilateral relations are facing new development opportunities as this year marks the 5th anniversary of the establishment of China-Brunei strategic cooperative relations. China is willing to, together with Brunei, well implement bilateral high-level consensus, intensify high-level exchanges, deepen the integration of development strategies, and push forward the Belt and Road cooperation, so as to promote bilateral relations for greater development.

Wang Yi said that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as well as the China-ASEAN Year of Innovation. China is willing to make joint efforts with Brunei to promote the improvement and upgrade of China-ASEAN relations, and strengthen the cooperation with the East ASEAN Growth Area, in a bid to inject new impetus into the construction of the ASEAN community and into the ASEAN integration process.

Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof expressed that His Majesty Sultan and the Bruneian government highly value Brunei-China relations, and appreciate China for upholding that all countries, big or small, are equal, and for providing the Bruneian side with strong support in boosting its economic diversification. The Bruneian side expects and believes that China will make greater development achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and stands ready to deepen the Belt and Road cooperation with China. China is welcome to increase support for the East ASEAN Growth Area, so as to boost the common development of the region.

Both sides also exchanged views on the South China Sea issue, and jointly agreed to continue to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in a comprehensive and effective manner, enhance maritime cooperation, and push forward the consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, so as to jointly safeguard the peace and stability of the South China Sea and the region.