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Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong Meets with Bruneian Ambassador to China Pehin Dato Rahmani

2021-09-14 22:55

On September 14, 2021, Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Liu Jinsong met with Bruneian Ambassador to China Pehin Dato Rahmani. Both sides exchanged views on China-Brunei relations, East Asia cooperation, and international and regional issues of common concern.

Liu Jinsong said, the first foreign delegation I received after joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the one headed by Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna of Brunei to China. It is well within my memory that both the guests and hosts enjoyed the cordial and friendly visit. China and Brunei are traditionally friendly neighbors with contacts dated back to one thousand years ago. As early as in China's Ming dynasty, the King of Boni traveled to China many times. Zheng He also stopped over twice in Brunei, and was fondly known as Panglima Cheng Ho among the people of Brunei. Today, the Tomb of the King of Boni in Nanjing and the Jalan Ong Sum Ping in Bandar Seri Begawan are testimonies to the long history of China-Brunei friendship and the joint building of the Maritime Silk Road. Regardless of what we are facing, either the ravaging COVID-19 or changes in the international situation, China-Brunei relations have always maintained a momentum of steady development. The Chinese saying "distance never separates two hearts that really care" vividly explains the deep meaning of the Malay proverb "water is not severable".

Liu Jinsong stressed, China has proposed the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 and Brunei is also working hard to achieve its national vision Wawasan Brunei 2035. Both sides coincidentally have medium and long-term plans, and thus should strengthen alignment and work together. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei and of dialogue relations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Brunei is the rotating chair of ASEAN. China is willing to continuously deepen the traditional friendship with Brunei, continue to jointly fight the virus in a close manner, and conduct high-quality Belt and Road cooperation to help each other's national development. China is also willing to work with Brunei to plan the agenda for East Asian cooperation and push for further quality improvement and upgrade of China-ASEAN relations.

Noting that the friendship between Brunei and China goes back a long way, Pehin Dato Rahmani said, I am honored to be the ambassador to China. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah has recently recorded a video message for the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China Expo, fully reflecting the great importance that the Bruneian side attaches to Brunei-China and ASEAN-China relations. Brunei admires China's great achievements in COVID-19 response very much, and China is the safest country in the world today. Brunei will always remember China's generous assistance in providing anti-virus supplies and vaccines when the country needed help most. Brunei is willing to take the opportunity of the year celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei and of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, and work with China for greater development of China-Brunei strategic cooperative partnership and ASEAN-China relations.

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