BEIJING — State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Brunei's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Dato Paduka Haji Erywan bin Pehin Yusof jointly presided over the first meeting of the China-Brunei intergovernmental joint steering committee in Beijing on Jan 21.

"The establishment of the joint steering committee is an important consensus reached by the two heads of state and meets the needs of the upgrading of bilateral relations," Wang said.

The two sides further agreed to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation in 10 areas including economy, commerce, maritime affairs and energy under the framework of the committee and establish several working groups, which are of great significance to the in-depth development of bilateral relations, Wang said.

"China will continue to firmly pursue its good-neighborly and friendly policy toward the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)," said Wang, adding that China has always held a consistent position on the South China Sea issue and stands ready to work with ASEAN countries to continue to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and push forward consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

Erywan said Brunei attaches great importance to developing relations with China and is willing to work with China to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and speed up the joint construction of the Belt and Road.

The Bruneian side reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy and is willing to work with China to actively promote consultations on the COC and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea region.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on issues such as regional cooperation in East Asia and cooperation between China and Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area.