Bandar Seri Begawan (VNA)ꦡ – President Tran Dai Quang and Bruneian Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah have affirmed their determination to further deepen and expand the two countries’ relations in the interests of the two peoples.

At the talks, which took place after the welcoming ceremony for the Vietnamese President in Bandar Seri Begawan on August 27, the two leaders agreed to coordinate in implementing activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2017, including exchanging delegations and holding exhibitions and workshops on their land, people and culture. They affirmed to maintain high-level visits and intensify people-to-people diplomacy in order to tighten mutual understanding and trust, while agreeing to soon organise the first meeting of the bilateral cooperation committee in Vietnam to set forth measures to strengthen cooperation in specific areas, especially economics, trade and investment so as to achieve the target of 500 million USD in two-way trade by 2025. The two leaders agreed to boost defence collaboration and consider negotiating and signing agreements on trans-national crime prevention, mutual legal assistance on penal affairs, extradition and the transfer of prisoners. They showed their hope to step up collaboration in such potential fields as agriculture, fisheries, oil and gas, labour, tourism, education, and transportation. They welcomed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation between the two culture ministries and another on economic and trade cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Bruneian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade during President Quang’s visit. The two leaders also agreed to assign their ministries and agencies to early sign several agreements involving ties in labour and maritime transportation. The Bruneian Sultan appreciated the involvement of Vietnamese businesses in his country’s economy, particularly the effective cooperation between PetroVietnam and PetroleumBrunei. He hoped for more investments from Vietnam, and expressed thanks to Vietnamese experts for supporting Brunei in developing the agro-fisheries sector. President Quang welcomed the enhanced connectivity between the two countries, especially after the resumption of a direct air route linking Brunei and Ho Chi Minh City in October 2014, which, he said, has facilitated people-to-people exchanges and the development of the bilateral trade and investment ties. He appreciated Brunei’s handling of Vietnamese fishing vessels and fishermen in line with the friendly ties between the two countries. The two leaders exchanged notes on regional and international issues, agreeing to support each other at forums, particularly in ASEAN and the United Nations, and to strengthen unity and maintain the central role of ASEAN in the regional security structure. They emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and safety in the East Sea, while agreeing to push for the settlement of disputes in the sea by peaceful means and join other parties in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea fully and effectively, working towards the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, in order to maintain peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah affirmed that Brunei will assist Vietnam in successfully hosting the APEC Summit 2017 and support the country at the International Law Commission. President Quang took this occasion to invite the Bruneian Sultan and other members of the royal family to visit Vietnam. The latter accepted the invitation. On the same day, the Vietnamese leader visited the Brunei LNG Company, during which he confirmed that Vietnam encourages and creates favourable conditions for the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group to develop its cooperation with foreign partners with advanced technologies like the Brunei LNG. On the evening of August 27, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah hosted a state banquet for President Tran Dai Quang and the Vietnamese delegation.-VNA