Xi's visit to Brunei can further promote bilateral exchanges: locals

Locals in Brunei are suggesting Chinese President Xi Jinping's now-concluded visit to the Sultanate should help create more bilateral exchanges and common development.

Haji Sabli, the acting director of the Museums Department with Brunei's Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, says he expects the Chinese President's time in the Sultanate should help foster more cultural exchanges, noting there are already a rising number of Chinese tourists travelling to Brunei.

"It (tourism) helps people to understand people and the cultures, and how they live. I've been to China several times. China is a very big country, very developed. China and this region, including Brunei itself, we're developing together, we're prospering together, that's the main theme of what we're looking into," says Sabli.

China and Brunei issued a joint statement during President Xi Jinping's time there, with the two sides agreeing to expand people-to-people exchanges and encourage airlines to start running more direct flights between them.

A memorandum of understanding has also created a joint steering committee which will work toward building up more connections in the maritime, commercial, technical and energy sectors.

The two have also promised to work more closely in maritime oil and gas resource extraction.

30-year-old Indra Masri, who has worked on an offshore oil rig in Brunei for eight years, says he expects Xi Jinping's trip can mean more opportunities for people like himself.

"Definitely, I hope for the best of the visit and I hope that these visits of the Chinese President will bring more opportunities to local Bruneians and for myself as well. China has a very good experience with technology and advancements that I would be actually interested in exploring and maybe even bringing some of those technologies to Brunei," says Masri.

Wang Xiaolin, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Brunei, says Xi Jinping's visit is also going to be good for the overall trade ties.

"China is a big market. I hope Brunei will find more business opportunities in this market. We also anticipate a new round of investment in Brunei after President Xi's visit. The exchanges between the two countries will be closer. Practical cooperation will be more vibrant," says Wang.

The two sides, in a joint statement, have also broadly suggested a strengthening of trade and investment cooperation.

The Chinese side has also agreed to share its development experiences in emerging economic fields with Brunei.

Brunei's government has said it will remain open to more foreign direct investment from China.

Xi Jinping wrapped up his first state visit to Brunei on Tuesday.