Bandar Seri Begawan, Oct.23 (People’s Daily Online) “The development strategies for both China and Brunei are highly compatible and the prospect of bilateral relation is even broader, ” noted Yu Hong, Chinese Ambassador to Brunei, in a written response to the Chinese media delegation led by ASEAN-China Center (ACC) on Oct.22.

The delegation composed of eight reporters from different domestic media outlets in China embarked on a media exchange trip to Brunei and Myanmar on Oct.20.

"Since the formal establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1991, the relationship between the two countries has steadily strengthened. Furthermore, exchanges as well as cooperation between the two sides in the aspects of economy, humanitarian aid, education and health have been expanding, and furthermore people-to-people understanding and friendship have both also deepened." Yu Hong said in the written reply to the media delegation.

"At present, the three major events established by the two heads of state this year have made remarkable progress,” said Yu.

The three major events mentioned by Yu are the Hengyi Petrochemical project’s successful transition from construction to operation; the upcoming opening of the direct flight between the capital cities of China and Brunei and the vast effort made to promote steady cooperation between projects along the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor.

“In order to better achieve sustainable economic development, the Brunei government proposed a medium as well as long-term development plan "Vision 2035" in the year of 2008, and formulated a series of development strategies with emphasis on attracting foreign investment to develop non-oil and non-gas industries, improve the business environment, and to stimulate the market in order to realize the diversification of economic development,” added Yu, “this is highly compatible with the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China, and the potential for pragmatic cooperation between the two sides is truly enormous.

“Hengyi Petrochemical Project has entered trial operations and is gradually exerting economic and social benefits,” said Yu Hong, putting a note on the importance Chinese investment has on the progress of the diversification of the economic structure of Brunei.

She also emphasized other opportunities that the two countries could grasp under the framework of the BRI and the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor.

“Relevant Chinese enterprises have started cooperation in port operations, fish farming, and spice processing, and China is willing to continue to expand cooperation with Brunei in the fields of finance, agriculture, halal food, and e-commerce,” added Yu.

Yu Hong also mentioned the responsibilities that come along with the huge influence made by Chinese companies here in Brunei, “Chinese enterprises must abide by relevant laws and regulations to avoid misunderstandings due to the lack of knowledge of Brunei’s national characteristics and religious customs."

At the end of the interview, Yu wrote that Brunei's economic diversification process requires the support of many technical talents, which means talent exchange could be an important guarantee for successful cooperation between two countries.

"The exchanges and cooperation related to talents from both sides will continue to make new progress and breakthroughs with the support coming from governments, enterprises and technical departments from both sides," noted Yu Hong.