On April 24, 2019, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met in Beijing with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof of Brunei, who was accompanying Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei for the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China.

Wang Yi said that Brunei is China’s natural partner in jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and bilateral cooperation has enjoyed fruitful outcomes. President Xi Jinping has established strong mutual trust and friendship with His Majesty Sultan. The two sides have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, and bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of development. Both sides have made positive progress in jointly building the major projects under the Belt and Road Initiative. Brunei was the first country to discuss joint maritime development with the Chinese side. In recent years, the cooperation consensus between the two sides has been increasing. The Chinese side attaches great importance to the construction of the East Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Growth Area and looks forward to working with the Bruneian side to promote the upgrade of the cooperation between China and the East ASEAN Growth Area.

Dato Seri Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof expressed that the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation provides an important platform for all countries to discuss deepening cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. A memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed between Brunei and China, laying a solid foundation for cooperation between the two sides in the next step. The Bruneian side is ready to actively discuss maritime cooperation with the Chinese side to push for greater development of bilateral relations.