Brunei eyes stronger ties with China

The Sultan of Brunei's latest state visit to Beijing is expected to boost support for the sultanate's long-term goal of diversifying its petroleum-based economy, analysts said.

Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah met with President Xi Jinping on Thursday.

The visit concluded with both sides aiming to seize economic opportunities in the realization of China's Belt and Road Initiative and Brunei's Wawasan 2035 national development plan.

China will also continue supporting the sultanate's role within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area, or BIMP-EAGA.

Sultan Hassanal's visit last week was the 13th time that the Bruneian monarch has visited China.

Hoon Chang Yau, a professor at the Institute of Asian Studies at the University of Brunei Darussalam, or UBD, said amid shifting global power dynamics in a multipolar world, these frequent high-level exchanges highlight the mutual commitment to enhance Brunei-China ties.

Hoon said Brunei's strategic location in Southeast Asia and its membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations makes it a "crucial partner" for China in regional stability and economic cooperation.

Awang Azman Awang Pawi, associate professor at the Academy of Malay Studies at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, noted the "deepening ties between the two nations, particularly as global geopolitics shift toward a more multipolar order".

Awang Azman said the BRI's alignment with Wawasan 2035 offers Brunei a pathway to economic diversification. He cited current Chinese initiatives that are helping Brunei to wean itself away from its oil and gas-dependent economy.

These initiatives include the establishment of the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor in 2014, as well as the partnership between Brunei's state-owned Darussalam Assets and China's Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group to operate Muara Port.

Hafiizh Hashim, assistant lecturer at UBD's Academy of Brunei Studies, said Brunei has always viewed China as an important strategic partner.

He said China has "become increasingly important, especially toward achieving Brunei's national vision".

Hoon said China's involvement in BIMP-EAGA can bring "substantial benefits", such as infrastructure development, enhancing connectivity, technology transfer and increased trade and investment.

Established in 1994, BIMP-EAGA is a sub-region within ASEAN. It was created to accelerate growth in some of ASEAN's marginalized and geographically remote areas.