In order to implement the important consensus reached by two leaders, the opening ceremony of the Brunei-China Tourism Year 2020, jointly hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Brunei’s Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism as well as the Chinese Embassy to Brunei, took place in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital city of Brunei on January 17th. Attendees included Zhang Xu, Chinese vice-minister of Culture and Tourism, Yu Hong, Chinese ambassador to Brunei, Brunei Princess Hajah Masna, ambassador at-large for the Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Haji Ali, Brunei’s minister of Primary Resources and Tourism and Aminuddin, Brunei’s minister of Culture, Youth and Sports. At the opening ceremony, Vice-Minister Zhang Xu and Minister Haji Ali read the congratulatory letters from two leaders, and delivered short speeches. Princess Hajah Masna. announced the opening of the year of tourism.
Zhnag Xu expressed in his speech that both sides will implement the important consensus reached by two leaders to host the China-Brunei year of tourism, implement a plan to promote tourism in Asia Asian, make new progress in tourism cooperation and contribute to the development of friendly relations between two countries. Haji Ali noted that China and Brunei will see a larger scale of mutual visits and more deepening cultural and people-to-people exchanges as the China-Brunei Year of Tourism events will be put into place this year. Yu Hong said that the year of tourism will further enhance mutual understanding between two peoples. Meanwhile, the Chinese side is willing to work jointly with Brunei to strengthen cooperation and strategic partnership between two sides by virtue of the year of tourism to embrace the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between two countries.
At the opening ceremony, the artists from China and Brunei entertained the audience with dazzling performances. In the afternoon, a tourism promotion was successfully held for two countries as well.
In April 4th, President Xi Jinping and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei designated 2020 as the Chna-Brunei Year of Tourism in Beijing during Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah’s visit to China. The two sides will also host other events throughout the year, including exhibitions, forums, training and expositions of the world cultural heritage.