Brunei has Unique Advantages with Regional Countries and Beyond

Brunei has unique advantages with regional countries and beyond
August 14, 2017

| Danial Norjidi |

BRUNEI is an important member of Asean, as well as an active promoter and contributor to regional peace, development and prosperity.

This was said by Yang Xiuping, the Secretary-General of the Asean-China Centre (ACC) in a speech during the Trade Dialogue on ‘Asean Beyond 50: Benefits, Opportunities and Challenges’ at the International Convention Centre in Berakas over the weekend.

She said, “Brunei has unique advantages in economic cooperation with the regional countries and beyond.

“In recent years, encouraged by the Belt and Road initiatives, more and more Chinese investors are cooperating with their Brunei counterparts in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, energy, logistics and other areas which have achieved fruitful results.”

“The ACC would like to cooperate with friends from Brunei and other Asean member countries and its dialogue partners to further promote Asean-China practical cooperation and enhance the understanding and friendship between Asean and China,” she added.

The Asean-China Centre is an inter-governmental organisation co-founded by the 10 Asean member states and China. Since its inception in 2011, the ACC has been committed to promoting practical cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, education, culture, tourism and media.

By the end of 2016, the ACC had carried out more than 100 flagship projects and organised or participated in more than 500 activities, contributing to the development of Asean-China relations and regional cooperation.

Yang noted that at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting/Post Ministerial Conferences held last week in Manila, the revised Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Asean-China Centre was jointly signed by the foreign ministers of Asean and China.

“It will further enhance the role of ACC in promoting practical cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, education, culture as well as information and media between Asean and China.”

She also shared that the ACC is working on 19 flagship projects for 2017.

“On trade and investment, ACC vigorously promotes the upgraded Asean-China FTA and relevant Asean trade and investment policies, and enhances cooperation on production capacity, agriculture and poverty reduction.

“ACC continues to support Asean and Chinese enterprises, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enhance business opportunities on both sides.”

“For instance, ACC helped China’s local provinces build commercial centres with the theme of Asean and organised investment missions to Asean member countries. ACC also actively promotes e-commerce cooperation in keeping with the trend of the times.”

“Besides, ACC hosted the international symposium on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Asean, which is the first commemorative event held in an Asean’s dialogue partner country.”

She said that the ACC hosted or supported seven activities during the 10th Asean-China Education Cooperation Week in areas like personnel cultivation as well as Technical and Vocational Training.

The ACC also held the Asean-China Quality and Sustainable Tourism Development Conference and Asean Photo Exhibition, and is working with Beijing TV on tourism documentary series of 10 Asean member countries.

In addition, the ACC organised the visits of mainstream media of Asean and China and hosted the Beijing Asean Cultural Tour and Asean Gourmet Festival.

“All these have helped cement the public support for the development of Asean-China relations,” she added.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin