Boosting ICT Cooperation With China
By Lyna Mohamad

Bandar Seri Begawan - The history of the relationship between Brunei Darussalam and China dates back many centuries that was started by our ancestors and has been continued and strengthened to this day, said the Minister of Communications, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Awg Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong.

"Our relationship has also evolved along with the advanced technologies as well as the needs of our people. Our cooperation in the ICT sector is indeed very important as ICT is regarded as an engine of growth."

Speaking at a bilateral meeting with Jiang Yaoping, Vice Minister of Information Industry,

People's Republic of China, the minister added that it is therefore important to pave the way for the benefits of ICT to trickle down to the people, and the participation of the private sector is also crucial in order to support and contribute to the economy.

The bilateral meeting yesterday at the Ministry of Communications, amongst others, discussed ways to strengthen the relationship between the two countries as well as issues of mutual interest in the field of ICT.

Also present at the bilateral meeting were Deputy Minister of Communications, Dato Paduka Hj Yusof bin Hj Abd Hamid, Permanent Secretary, Dato Paduka Hj Yussof bin Hj Hassan and the Ambassador of the PR of China, Mdm Tong Xiaoling. Others in attendance included senior officers both from the Ministry of Communications, Brunei Darussalam and Ministry of Information Industry, PR of China.

The minister in his welcoming remarks said both have come a long way, noting the recent 15th anniversary of the Asean-China dialogue.

"Over the past few years, the ICT cooperation between Asean and China has been significantly strengthened on a wide range of areas."

"Particularly, we note with satisfaction that our business communities have established closer ties through various programmes, on infrastructure, investment and commercial projects, research and development, training and capacity building" highlighted the minister.

Yesterday's bilateral meeting was aimed at enhancing the cooperation in ICT between the two countries not only between the governments but also importantly between the private companies of both countries.

The officials also discussed the implementation of the 'Plan of Action to Implement the Beijing Declaration on Asean-China ICT Cooperative Partnership for Common Development' that was the output document of the 2nd Asean-China ICT Ministerial Forum held in Penang Malaysia last April 2006 that was discussed further at the 1st Asean Telecommunications & IT Ministers + China Meeting (1st Asean TELMIN + China) held in the sultanate last September. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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