1. His Majesty Meets with Defense Minister Dong Jun
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun in Bandar Seri Begawan on July 28,2026.
His Majesty stated that Brunei and China enjoy deep bilateral ties and are jointly committed to building a community with a shared future. Brunei firmly pursues the one-China policy, appreciates China's support for ASEAN centrality, and sincerely thanks China for assisting the country in advancing its national vision, the Wawasan Brunei 2035. His Majesty expressed hope that the two countries would strengthen cooperation on regional issues of mutual interest. Defense cooperation, His Majesty noted, is an important pillar of the two countries' strategic cooperative partnership. In recent years, the two militaries have yielded fruitful results in institutionalized dialogue, personnel exchanges, education and training, and other areas. Brunei looks forward to deepening exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries and welcomes more visits by Chinese naval vessels, His Majesty added.
Minister Dong said that this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the two sides have steadily enhanced political mutual trust, pursued economic mutual benefit, strengthened people-to-people connectivity, and consolidated mutual assistance on multilateral platforms, setting a fine example of equality, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes, he pointed out.
Noting that China-Brunei military cooperation now faces important opportunities, he said that both sides should build on the momentum to elevate all-dimensional cooperation and deliver more practical results, so as to make greater contributions to building a China-Brunei community with a shared future and opening up new prospects for bilateral relations. Peace in the South China Sea bears on the common interests of regional countries. China stands ready to strengthen practical cooperation with Brunei in maritime security and other relevant fields to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
2. Wang Yi Meets with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei
On July 22, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam in Manila.
Wang Yi conveyed President Xi Jinping’s warm greetings to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and congratulated His Royal Highness on assuming office. He noted that China-Brunei friendship stretches back over a thousand years. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China-Brunei relations have stood as an exemplary model of equal treatment and win-win cooperation between countries of different sizes. Last year, President Xi Jinping and His Majesty reached important consensus on working towards a China-Brunei community with a shared future, opening a new chapter in bilateral ties. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brunei, and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office paid a successful visit to China recently. China stands ready to work with Brunei to deliver on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, give full play to the China-Brunei intergovernmental joint steering committee, step up cooperation in economy and trade, energy, artificial intelligence and other areas, advance maritime joint development, enable more fruitful outcomes from practical bilateral cooperation, and foster a higher-level China-Brunei strategic cooperative partnership.
His Royal Highness passed on sincere greetings from His Majesty to President Xi Jinping, and said that Brunei-China friendship has a long-standing history. His Royal Highness Crown Prince’s successful visit to China recently yielded a set of consensus on advancing Brunei-China relations. China is Brunei’s most trusted friend as well as its largest trading and investment partner. Brunei attaches great importance to cooperation with China and firmly adheres to the one-China policy. It is ready to consolidate the strategic cooperative partnership with China, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in trade, investment, artificial intelligence, people-to-people fields, and steadily advance efforts to build a Brunei-China community with a shared future.
3. His Majesty Attends Birthday Get-together
On July 22, July 29, and August 1, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam attended the the get-together ceremony with citizens and residents in the Temburong District, Brunei–Muara District, and Belait District,in celebration of His Majesty’s 80th birthday. Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah. Thousands of citizens from the three districts joined the events, expressing their sincere birthday wishes to His Majesty.
4. His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen Attends the AMM/PMC and Related Meetings.
From July 20 to 23,The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Post-Ministerial Conference, and Related Meetings were held in Manila, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam, led the delegation to attend the meetings.
During the meetings, His Royal Highness emphasized that the regional peace, stability and predictability depend on all countries’ adherence to international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and on the promoting of confidence-building measures. Brunei looks forward to deepening regional cooperation with all countries to jointly address global challenges such as climate change. His Royal Highness emphasized the importance of ensuring ASEAN's needs and interests remain at the centre of its engagement with external partners and called on countries aligned with the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) to join the Treaty, thereby strengthening regional peace, stability and cooperation.
5. Chinese PLA Navy's 83rd Task Group Conducts Goodwill Visit to Brunei Darussalam
The Chinese PLA Navy's 83rd task group conducted a goodwill visit to Brunei Darussalam from July 24 to July 28, 2026.
During the visit, the task group commander paid a courtesy call on the commander of the Royal Brunei Navy. The visiting officers and soldiers visited the Royal Brunei Navy Training Centre, the Military Museum, the Defence Academy. They also held activities with Brunei's military personnel, including ship visits, a deck reception, and friendly sports matches, as well as participating in local public performances and charitable outreach events..
6. China Embassy and PLA Navy Task Force 83 Co-Host Deck Reception to Mark the 99th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army
On 26 July, the Chinese Embassy in Brunei, together with the visiting Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Task Force 83, co-hosted a deck reception to celebrate the 99th anniversary of the founding of the PLA. H.E. Ambassador Chen Shaochun, and Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Mejar Jeneral (B.) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II of Brunei Darussalam attended the event. Around 400 attendees, including diplomats of the Embassy, representatives of the naval task force, Brunei military and government officials as well as friends from all walks of life, diplomatic corps, representatives of Chinese enterprises and overseas Chinese community were also present.
Defence Attaché of the Embassy Dai Qilin delivered a speech. He briefed the audience on the remarkable achievements of China’s military development and national progress, elaborated on China’s foreign and defence policies, and spoke highly of the progress in bilateral and military to military relations over the 35 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He underscored China’s readiness to deepen all round exchanges and cooperation with Brunei, advance the building of a China Brunei community with a shared future, so as to make greater contributions to regional and global peace, stability, development and prosperity. The reception was filled with a festive and warm atmosphere. Guests engaged in cordial exchanges and interactions, and talked about China Brunei friendship. Talent performances by officers of the task force drew repeated rounds of applause.