On April 21, 2016 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Minister of the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng of Brunei in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Wang Yi expressed that China and Brunei have come to the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which is an important year to inherit the past and usher in the future. The two sides have always been respecting and supporting each other, becoming a model of equal treatment and mutually beneficial cooperation between big and small countries. China regards Brunei as a trustworthy and sincere friend as well as cooperative partner in the region and attaches great emphasis to developing China-Brunei strategic cooperative relationship. Currently the two countries are facing the mission of promoting economic transformation and upgrading as well as accelerating sustainable development, revealing more prominent complementarity in cooperation. The two sides should take the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to inject new impetus to China-Brunei practical cooperation and create a new prospect for strategic cooperative relationship.
The two sides should maintain high-level exchanges so as to add new impetus to the development of China-Brunei relations. The two countries should also insist on mutual support in major issues concerning each other's core interests.
The two sides should expand practical cooperation. China is willing to vigorously promote the docking of "the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road" initiative and Brunei's "Wawasan 2035" and help Brunei realize economic diversification. China will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest in Brunei, expand cooperation in such fields as infrastructure construction and finance, and drive the building of Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor. China supports the enterprises of the two countries to conduct cooperation in petrochemical industry integration, so as to create more successful brands that benefit both sides. China is also willing to provide active support for Brunei to play a central role in the development of East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).
The two sides should enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges, actively carry out communication in areas including culture, education, health, and tourism and deepen friendship between the two peoples.
The two sides should strengthen communication and coordination in international affairs such as coping with climate change and sustainable development.
China supports and advocates the "dual-track approach" for dealing with the South China Sea issue first put forward by Brunei, which means that disputes over certain Nansha islands and reefs should be appropriately resolved by countries directly concerned via negotiations and consultations and the peace and stability in the South China Sea region should be jointly protected by China and ASEAN countries. The "dual-track approach" is in line with provisions of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and complies with the overall and long-term interests of China and ASEAN countries.
Wang Yi stated that as an important member state of the ASEAN, Brunei has made positive and significant contributions to promoting China-ASEAN relations for a long time. China is willing to work with the ASEAN to ensure the success of the China-ASEAN Summit and the Commemorative Summit for the 25th Anniversary of China-ASEAN Dialogue Relations and maintain the sound development momentum of China-ASEAN relations. Among ASEAN's relations with major countries, China-ASEAN relations enjoy the earliest development, the greatest potential, the largest space, the strongest impetus and the most promising prospects, in which we have full confidence.
Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng expressed that Brunei-China exchanges enjoy a long history and the two countries have developed close relations. Brunei is willing to work with China to deepen strategic cooperation, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen practical cooperation in infrastructure construction, finance, petrochemical industry and other areas, and expand communication in aspects like tourism, traditional Chinese medicine and youth affairs. Brunei will stick to the One-China policy. Brunei appreciates China for its essential leadership in issues like tackling climate change and sustainable development, and is willing to strengthen coordination with China in international affairs. ASEAN-China relations are of paramount importance to the ASEAN, and Brunei is willing to actively promote the development of ASEAN-China relations. The peace and stability of the South China Sea is significant to both ASEAN countries and China. Brunei always advocates that relevant disputes should be resolved by countries directly concerned through bilateral negotiations and consultations, and the countries outside the region should support this effort as well.