China and Brunei signed four major agreements and exchanged
notes on the waiving of diplomatic, official and service visas in
Bandar Seri Begawan on Wednesday as President Hu Jintao
began his two-day state visit to the tiny Islamic sultanate of
Brunei Darussalam.
The agreements dealt with cooperation in the realms of
communication technology, public health, energy and
people-to-people exchanges.
This is Hu's first visit to Brunei since assuming the
presidency, and also his first stop on a three-nation tour of
Southeast Asia, which also includes Indonesia and the
Philippines.
During the meeting with Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Hu suggested that the two countries expand
economic cooperation and encourage connections between enterprises,
particularly in the crude oil trade.
He also discussed collaboration in travel and aviation and
exchanges between the two armies, and invited Brunei to open
consulates in Hong Kong and Shanghai.
The two leaders talked about initiating activities to celebrate
next year's 15th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations.
Disputed areas of the South China Sea were also a topic of
discussion. Hu said that China has always insisted on finding ways
to exploit the disputed areas together with concerned countries on
the basis of mutual respect, equality and benefit in an open and
flexible manner.
The sultan said the Code of Conduct of the South China Sea,
signed between China and the Association of Southeast Asia Nations
in late 2002, was a major step toward resolving the disputed
areas.
China began importing oil from Brunei in the 1980s. Daily
imports averaged 20,000 barrels in 2004, about one-tenth of
Brunei's oil production.
According to Chinese ambassador to Brunei Yang Yanyi, there are
about 40,000 Chinese living in the country, accounting for 11
percent of the population. Many of them have business interests in
Shanghai, particularly in the real estate and service
industries.
Yang said about 20,000 Chinese travel to Brunei every year and
the number is expected to climb to about 100,000 by 2010.
She said the agreement on the Total Network in Brunei 3G project
signed on Wednesday between Huawei Technology and Telekom Brunei
would provide cost-effective and convenient communication and
service facilities to the country.
"I think it will also contribute to the country's efforts in
e-government and e-business," she said.
Zhang Sen, a representative from Huawei Technology, the largest
Chinese company operating in Brunei, said his company has
confidence in the local market. "We are planning to train local
technicians and engineers to help with the development of the
projects."
He said the 3G mobile phone system is expected to be
commissioned toward the end of this year.
(China Daily, China.org.cn April 21, 2005)