HM In China For Trade Talks
By Asri Razak

Nanning - His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam arrived at the Nanning Wuxu International Airport here yesterday for the China-Asean Commemorative Summit, 15 years after China's, establishment of dialogue relations with Aseann member's countries.

The monarch was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

His Majesty is scheduled to attend the two-day summit begin ping today and visit the 3rd China-Asean Expo (Caexpo) and the 3rd China-Asean Business and Investment Summit here. The monarch will also hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the summit.

A Bruneian senior official said the Commemorative Summit would upgrade the profile of the expo and focus on the development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation between, China and Asean. At the Caexpo, Brunei Darussalam will showcase sunken treasures artifacts and replica of the Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at its pavilion.

Ak Khairil Khalid Pg Syed Jaafari from the. Product Development Division of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, who is coordinator of the sultanate's pavilion, said, "This is a great opportunity for Brunei Darussalam to create awareness among investors and tourists about its culture and heritage."

Another ministry official, Marian Sabtu, said the expo would also promote political and economic relatons between China and Brunei through the establishment of joint ventures in various business activities, including tourism.

At the expo, Brunei is offering opportunities to foreign investors to do businesses in various sectors, including the processing and halal labelling of food products and the downstream oil and gas industry.

Pg Aki Ismasufian Pg Hj Ibrahim of the Brunei Economic Development Board said its members were participating in the expo to look for potential partners to establish new businesses to meet the country's diversification program.

"We hope that we can attract foreign investors to do businesses in Brunei, so that by the year 2010, Brunei can absorb new investments of about about US$4.5 billion per annum to create about 7000 jobs," he said.

Brunei has sent a delegation of 167 participants, including 126 from the business sector to the expo. Participating firms include Semaun Holdings and Sabli.

Chinese businessman Pang Zhun, who is a deputy general manager of a power company, said he was pleased with Brunei's display of the Royal Chariot last year and looked forward t6 visiting Brunei's pavilion at the Caexpo this year. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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