China, Brunei pledge to boost cooperation as foreign ministers meet

China is ready to boost cooperation with Brunei to take bilateral ties to a new height, said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during talks with Bruneian Foreign Minister II Dato' Erywan Pehin Yusof in Beijing on Tuesday.

The Chinese side is willing to work with Brunei to establish the long-term goal of jointly building a community with a shared future and promote the strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level, said Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of Brunei's independence, Wang said that Brunei has adhered to a development path suited to its national conditions and played a unique and important role in regional affairs. China actively supports Brunei in promoting economic diversification and stands ready to further tap the potential of cooperation in emerging areas and create more cooperation highlights.

The two sides can deepen cooperation in education, cultural tourism, sports, sister cities and other fields to further facilitate personnel exchanges. China supports ASEAN centrality and strategic independence and supports expanding and strengthening the ASEAN-led cooperation mechanism. China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to deepen political mutual trust, jointly promote regional development and maintain regional stability, Wang said.

China is ready to work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and strive for the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, Wang added.

Erywan said that Brunei looks forward to maintaining high-level exchanges with China and closer cooperation in fields such as economy, trade, agriculture, education, artificial intelligence and big data to push for greater development of bilateral relations.

He said Brunei firmly believes that China's development is an unstoppable historical process, has full confidence in the Chinese economy, and expects that China's development will drive the common development of countries in the region.

Erywan said Brunei is willing to work closely with China to safeguard regional peace and stability and promote common development and prosperity.

(With input from Xinhua)