China-Brunei Maritime Cooperation: Economic corridor with Guangxi expected to spur growth in Brunei

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Southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is opening its gate wider to the outside world. With its geographic advantages and favorable policies in international maritime cooperation, Guangxi has already created more opportunities at home and abroad. The country of Brunei is one of the beneficiaries. CGTN's Sun Tianyuan has the report.

A busy day at the Qinzhou port. As the largest harbor in Guangxi, Qinzhou is also the closest to Southeast Asia.

YE QINMING, DEPUTY MANAGER OPERATION DEPT, BEIBU GULF PORT QINZHOU WHARVES CO. "Business is growing year by year. This year, the total number of standard containers Qinzhou handled is expected to reach 2.3 million. 400 thousand are shipped to Southeast Asia."

Among them, a large portion will transfer to Brunei.

SUN TIANYUAN QINZHOU "China and Brunei have exchanged goods since as early as the Western Han Dynasty more than 2,000 years ago. Now centuries later, these freighters are continuing their voyage across the seas. And for the two ancient trading partners, modern maritime technology is promoting cooperation like never before."

In 2014, Guangxi signed a memorandum with Brunei to build an economic corridor for more cooperation. The co-development of the Muara port is one of the major steps.

ZHOU YAN, GENERAL MANAGER BEIBU GULF PORT QINZHOU WHARVES CO. "Since we began working on the Muara port in 2017, we've upgraded its infrastructure and improved the management. The port has seen a steady growth in cargo handling capacity and work efficiency. The two sides also agreed to build the port into a transit hub in the region."

Helping Brunei modernize its only deepwater port, which was built in the 70's, is only the first step. The next is to diversify the nation's industries and reduce its dependence on oil revenues.

ZHOU YAN, GENERAL MANAGER BEIBU GULF PORT QINZHOU WHARVES CO. "We will build industrial parks near the port, which will help Brunei diversify its economy and emerging industries. It will also improve the country's competitiveness in the region with more advanced ideas and management concepts."

Zhou says he has confidence in the two countries' future ties.

ZHOU YAN, GENERAL MANAGER BEIBU GULF PORT QINZHOU WHARVES CO. "I think President Xi's visit to Brunei can be a great opportunity for the country to enhance trade with China. We would also like to establish a direct line between China and Brunei as soon as possible to achieve more win-win results."

Ahead of Xi Jinping's visit to Brunei, several local newspapers published a signed article by the Chinese president. In the article, Xi said China and Brunei, with mutual trust and common development, will turn a new chapter in bilateral ties. Sun Tianyuan, CGTN, Qinzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.