Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hailed China-Brunei relations, calling the bilateral tie a model of big and small countries holding each other on the equal footing and in peaceful coexistence when meeting with Bruneian Princess Hajah Masna Thursday in Beijing.

China sees Brunei as an important partner of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), said Wang, stressing China is willing to promote synergy and cooperation between the BRI and Wawasan 2035, a strategy for economic diversification.

Wang appreciated Brunei's active role in promoting China's relations with ASEAN, reaffirming that China is willing to push forward the joint development in South China Sea and expand the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) cooperation with Brunei.

The Chinese foreign minister also thanked Masna for her long-time contribution to China-Brunei ties.

Masna, for her part, applauded the close bilateral cooperation and the everlasting friendship between the two countries.

She expected the two countries to enhance people-to-people exchanges, strengthen the strategic cooperative partnership and maintain close communication and coordination in regional affairs.

(Cover: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Bruneian Princess Hajah Masna, Beijing, China, September 5, 2019. /Photo via Chinese Foreign Ministry)