Proposal for Chinese collaboration in 3 areas

01 Apr

Proposal for Chinese collaboration in 3 areas

News

1^st Apr, 2015

WITH the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor possessing vast potential for cooperation, Secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) of the Guangxi Committee cum Chairman of Standing Committee of Guangxi People’s Congress Peng Qinghua yesterday proposed collaboration in three areas: Ports; two industrial parks; and in the farming of oyster, fisheries and paddy.

The areas of cooperation were yesterday revealed by Peng Qinghua during a bilateral meeting with Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar.

In a speech, Peng Qinghua noted, “One of our main purposes of visiting Brunei is to implement a number of cooperation projects under the Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor. I think that Brunei-Guangxi Economic Corridor is a very innovative idea to boost economic cooperation.

“President Xi Jinping of China has proposed developing the Silk Road Economic and Maritime Silk Road for 21st Century. The proposal was warmly welcomed by countries along the maritime Silk Road, including Brunei. With Brunei also along the maritime Silk Road, and with its sight set on achieving the Brunei Vision 2035, the Brunei Guangxi Economic Corridor can contribute to achieving both aspirations,” he added.

Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim
Dato Paduka Haji Bakar exchanges a gift with Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) of Guangxi Committee Peng Qinghua.

The port cooperation “refers to cooperation between the Brunei Muara Port and Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group. The Brunei Muara Port is seeking international cooperation for upgrading and Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group, which belongs to Guangxi’s government, manages three sea ports. Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group is not only experienced in shipping, but also in port development, logistics and port-related development,” he explained.

Under the cooperation of Guangxi – Kuantan Industrial Park, he said, “Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group has invested US$100 million to acquire 40 per cent of the Kuantan Port. In addition, Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group has invested $1.4 billion for a steel mill with the capacity to produce 3.5 million TEU annually. The Kuantan Port and Muara Port are not far apart and we hope that the cooperation will be extended to Muara Port. We hope to integrate the cargo shipping route from Qinzhou to Kuantan and Muara. In five to six years, we can increase the container capacity in Muara port to 1 million TEU containers a year,” he added.

He later pointed out cooperation of two industrial parks, citing the Nanning Brunei Agricultural Industrial Park and Yulin Brunei Traditional Medicine Health Industrial Park. The municipal governments of Nanning and Yulin have shown strong interest in the development of both industrial parks. Through cooperation from both industrial parks, both governments can utilise the strength from Guangxi and Brunei. Guangxi has experience and sophisticated technology in agriculture, while Brunei has experience in Halal food and pharmaceutical products.

Peng Qinghua later highlighted the final proposal in the cooperation on faming of oyster, fisheries and paddy.

At the meeting, the minister recalled his visit to areas offered for the Brunei-Guangxi Corridor, noting that it is an important platform for implementing the proposed projects and programmes. Potential areas for cooperation and collaboration were identified.

“We visited some of the parks and facilities offered in Guangxi and I can see there is vast potential to develop the Brunei Guangxi Economic Corridor,” he added.

The minister later pointed out that the ministry will carry out visits, demonstrations and assessments of the identified cooperative projects, clarifying project ownerships and cooperation partners.

Also present at the meeting were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Hajah Normah Suria Hayati binti Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Haji Awang Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri; Deputy Permanent Secretaries Hajah Hasnah binti Haji Ibrahim and Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid; department heads and senior officers from the ministry.

Proposal for Chinese collaboration in 3 areas

Proposal for Chinese collaboration in 3 areas

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