In April 2022, the Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2022 established the special column to highly praise the fruits of “Belt and Road” cooperation between China and Brunei. The full text is following:

   The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), constantly developing through cooperation with all parties involved, has now grown into the largest international cooperation platform both in scope and scale, and the most popular international public good. The Belt and Road cooperation has shown great resilience and vitality in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In June 2021, President Xi Jinping delivered a written address to the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation, which was attended by ministers from nearly 30 Asia-Pacific countries including Brunei. President Xi said China will work with all sides to build a closer Belt and Road partnership of solidarity, cooperation, connectivity and common development, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. By October 2021, China has signed more than 200 documents on Belt and Road cooperation with 172 countries and international organizations, and promoted the establishment of more than 90 bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

China and Brunei are important partners in the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei. With the joint efforts of both sides, the Belt and Road cooperation has achieved positive results, playing an important role in deepening bilateral relations. In April this year, H.M. the Sultan of Brunei stated at Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2021 that BRI would further complement the revitalisation of the economies, adding that it is a significant plan that would contribute to regional connectivity and further enhance the economic landscape, and that it could also present opportunities to work together in many areas and through sub-regional fora such as BIMP-EAGA.

   The policy communication mechanism between the two countries has been continuously improved. In January 2021, H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, visited Brunei and co-chaired the 2nd meeting of the Joint Steering Committee between the two governments with H.E. Dato Erywan bin Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei. Both sides reaffirmed their continued commitment to strengthening Belt and Road cooperation. Both ministers attended the launching ceremony of the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties. In June, H.E. Wang Yi reiterated in the meeting with H.E. Dato Erywan bin Pehin Yusof in Chongqing China's willingness to promote the healthy development of China-Brunei Strategic Cooperative Partnership. Both ministers had 4 phone calls throughout the year and exchanged views on deepening bilateral cooperation. In addition, the two sides maintained close communication on the Belt and Road cooperation in various fields. H.E. Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II of Brunei, attended the Asia and Pacific High-level Conference on Belt and Road Cooperation. H.E. Pehin Dato Abu Bakar bin Apong, Minister of Home Affairs of Brunei, attended the Belt and Road Ministerial Forum for International Cooperation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management. H.E. Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Md Hussein, Minister of Energy of Brunei, attended the Second Belt and Road Energy Ministerial Conference. Chief Justice H.E. Dato Steven Chong Wan Oon of the Supreme Court of Brunei attended the Maritime Silk Road (Quanzhou) International Forum on Judicial Cooperation.

The cooperation in connectivity and infrastructure between the two countries has been continuously enhanced. China supports Brunei’s efforts to build the development hub of the BIMP-EAGA with the focus of Muara Port, and to jointly build a new pattern of China-BIMP-EAGA cooperation. The expansion of the Muara Port container terminal begins in the second half of 2021. Once completed, the container handling capacity will increase nearly 5 times. Huawei ICT Academy, a partnership between Huawei Technologies Brunei and Universiti Teknologi Brunei set up in March 2021, aims to cultivate talents of innovation and application for Brunei. The Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge of Brunei, co-construced by a Chinese company, was put into use in 2020 and has become a new symbol of Brunei's modernization. Projects such as Pulau Muara Besar Bridge, Trisai-Lumu Expressway, Uludu East Dam were constructed with high efficiency, high quality and advanced technology by Chinese companies, which greatly improved Brunei's connectivity. During the pandemic, the two countries maintained direct flights and sea transportation, which played an important role in stabilizing the industrial chain and supply chain of both sides.

The benefits of unimpeded trade between the two countries has been continuously unfolded. Due to the impact of the pandemic, world trade in goods fell by 5.6% year-on-year in 2020, the largest decline since the international financial crisis in 2008. However, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Brunei has maintained a good momentum, with the volume of trade in goods growing significantly against the trend of global economy, which reached USD 1.91 billion in 2020, up 72.5% year-on-year, much higher than the growth rate of China-ASEAN trade in goods of the same period of time. From January to October 2021, it hit a record high of USD 2.37 billion , 24% more than last year's annual trade volume. In 2020, Hengyi has played an active role in promoting Brunei's economic development, having expanded the Brunei's oil and gas downstream industry, making vital contributions to the promotion of local employment and economic diversification. The 5th China-Brunei Consultation Meeting on Trade, Investment and Economic Cooperation was held in September 2021. Both sides jointly announced the establishment of China-Brunei Investment and Economic Cooperation Working Group. Brunei participated in the Country Exhibition of the 4th China International Import Expo for the first time, and enterprises actively participated in the 18th China-ASEAN Expo. The two sides signed the Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Veterinary Health Requirements for Aquaculture Products Imported to China in July 2021, further strengthening the cooperation on aquaculture products. The two sides continue to explore the potential for cooperation in areas such as e-commerce, small and medium-sized enterprises, digital technology, and expand the mutual benefits of economic and trade cooperation.

The access to finance for both countries has been continuously expanded. Brunei, a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, has been working together with China to maintain regional financial stability and development. China welcomes Brunei's application to use the China-ASEAN Investment Cooperation Fund (CAF) and the Special Loan for China and BIMP-EAGA Cooperation to further promote the integration of ASEAN Community. Set up in Brunei since 2016, Brunei Branch of the Bank of China has been providing quality financial services for the country's economic development and project construction. Brunei's financial enterprises have actively taken in Chinese e-payment methods, with Alipay and UnionPay landing in Brunei successively, raising the level of convenience of local payment methods.

The mutual understanding between the two peoples has been continuously deepened. The Logo Design Competition for the 30th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and Brunei was held jointly by the Embassy of China and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei. H.E. Wang Yi, State Councilor and Foreign Minister of the People’s Republic of China, and H.E. Dato Erywan bin Pehin Yusof, Second Minister of Brunei Darussalam, attended the Awards Ceremony of the Logo Design Competition in January this year. H.R.H Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, attended and addressed the virtual reception in celebration of Chinese National Day and the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Since the onslaught of the pandemic last year, both peoples helped each other and joined hands in fighting the pandemic. The Bruneian government came forward with funds for Hubei Province of China. China donated a total of 152,000 doses of Sinopharm vaccines respectively in February and September this year as well as large quantity of anti-epidemic materials, strongly supporting Brunei’s fight against the pandemic. Local governments of Guangxi Province and City of Nanjing, Chinese businesses, and ordinary people of both countries also came forward with anti-epidemic supplies and funds. Evyd Technology has assisted in the development of emergency response platform and the continued improvement of BruHealth, both playing an increasingly important role in Brunei’s fight against the pandemic. Chinese company BGI responded swiftly to the request of the Bruneian government, and set up the first mobile inflatable Huo-Yan emergency test laboratory in Southeast Asia, significantly improving the testing and detection capacity of Brunei and boosting the public confidence in winning this fight. China provides scholarships to Brunei through various channels, and Chinese enterprises in Brunei actively cooperate with universities in both countries in training talents for Brunei. The Chinese Embassy organized the Painting Competition for primary school pupils, a gathering with Bruneian students China Alumni, and donated books on China and learning Chinese to colleges and schools, so as to continuously enhance the exchanges and friendship between the two peoples.

Moreover, the regional economic cooperation continues to make new progress, and synergize with BRI. China has always supported free trade, and advocates the establishment of an open, transparent, mutually beneficial and win-win regional free trade arrangement. After signing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), China, Brunei and other countries have completed the domestic ratification procedures, and RCEP will enter into force on 1st January 2022. In September 2021, China applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), declaring to the world once again China’s willingness and determination to continue to deepen reforms and opening up.

China is committed to promoting the high-quality development of BRI and providing new opportunities for the wider world with China’s new development. China stands ready to strengthen the synergy between China’s Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035 and Brunei’s Wawasan 2035, to focus on the economic recovery and explore new opportunities in the post-pandemic era, making new contributions to the continuous development of bilateral relations and the peace, stability and prosperity of the region.

The Borneo Bulletin Yearbook of Brunei was first introduced in 1993, and was published by Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. It is the most comprehensive guide to Brunei from various aspects including business, economy, trade and culture, and is widely valued by the society of Brunei.