China, Brunei lift ties to strategic cooperative partnership

President Xi Jinping pays a state visit to Brunei. [Photo/Xinhua]

Brunei's businesses are welcome to expand exports to China, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to strengthen cooperation with Brunei in infrastructure construction, agriculture, fishery, energy and other areas, and share the experience in developing digital economy, e-commerce and other emerging sectors.

The Chinese president urged the two sides to enhance cooperation in education, culture, sports, health and tourism, promote understanding and friendship between the youths, expand exchanges at sub-national level, and boost cooperation in judiciary, counter-terrorism and crackdown on cross-border crime.

Xi also proposed that the two countries deepen communication, coordination and collaboration within the frameworks such as the United Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and jointly promote greater development in China-ASEAN relations and East Asia cooperation.

China supports the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area cooperation and ASEAN in achieving a comprehensive, balanced development, he said.

On the South China Sea, Xi pointed out that it is in the vital interests of both China and Brunei to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea and also the shared aspiration of both peoples.

Xi said that China appreciates the dual-track approach proposed by Brunei: disputes should be handled through friendly consultation by parties concerned and countries in the region should jointly safeguard stability in the South China Sea.

Both sides should continue to advance maritime cooperation and the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, thus building the sea into a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, he added.

For his part, Hassanal extended warm welcome to Xi for his first state visit to Brunei, saying that the visit will deepen the traditional friendly relations between the two countries and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in all areas.

He said that Brunei and China enjoy a long history of friendship and the bilateral relations have continuously developed on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.

The Sultan said he is delighted that the bilateral ties were upgraded to a strategic cooperative partnership during Xi's visit.