Chinese City To Send More Tourists To The Sultanate By Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan -A Delegation from the Beihai Municipal People's Government, China, was here yesterday to promote cultural understanding, friendship and cooperation between the governments of Brunei Darussalam and China.

"Beihai is one of the major gateways for China to work with Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei," said the mayor of Beihai, Lian Younong, who led a group of 10 officials.

As such, he added, Beihai plays a major role in establishing and strengthening relations between the two.

Speaking yesterday at the dinner held by the Brunei-China Friendship Association, mayor Younong pointed out that the visit was one of the bilateral activities that have been stipulated under the agreement reached between the Chinese premier, Wen Jiabao, and His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to strengthen relations between the two countries.

Apart from international cooperation, "we would also like to carry out cooperation on the level of the city," said the Beihai mayor.

Younong also mentioned, Beihai's long-term plan to send its tourists to the Southeast Asian region, including Brunei. "We estimate that in a few years' time, we will be able to send several hundred thousand tourists (to the region)," he said.

Present at the dinner at the guest of honour was the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Haji Awang Dani bin Haji Ibrahim.

The visitors, who arrived in the sultanate on Saturday night, also paid a courtesy call on the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board yesterday morning.

They were received by the chairman of the board, Haji Nairul Anawar bin Haji Abd Lahai, and the deputy chairman, Pg Hj Mohd Noordin PLP Pg Hj Mohd Said.

In the closed meeting, the officials discussed among other things municipal and socioeconomic issues of relevance to both parties.

The delegates are scheduled to leave the country today to head to the Philippines for a working visit.

Beihai is located in the southern part of the Guangxi province of China and is surrounded by the sea on the south, north and west sides.

Covering an area of 3,337 square kilometres, Beihai has a population of about 1.45 million people. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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