His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam arrived in Nanning, People’s Republic of China yesterday to attend the 14th China-ASEAN (CAEXPO) and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) which will be held on 12th September 2017.
Accompanying His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is his son, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
Brunei’s participation to CAEXPO this year looks set to chart a milestone with a total of 119 companies participating – the Sultanate’s largest delegation to date – in conjunction with Brunei’s status this year as the expo’s Country of Honour. The companies, which include food and beverage, service industries, fashion and handicrafts, healthcare and cosmetics, manufacturing and education, are looking to sell as well as explore export opportunities and collaborations.
The expo, which is taking place at the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Centre from September 12 to 15, is an initiative born out of the 7th China-ASEAN Summit in 2003 to facilitate regional economic and trade cooperation.
The Country of Honour distinction means Brunei will take centre stage at two pavilions; one which showcases companies from ASEAN and China called the Commodity Pavilion, and the other the City of Charm Pavilion – where the 11 participating countries select a city of theirs to showcase.
CAEXPO is positioning itself as one of the definitive regional platforms for business opportunities to be explored – particularly the China ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) – which covers 1.85 billion consumers with combined Gross Domestic Product of USD 2.5 trillion. Through CAFTA, businesses can gain access to new markets without tariffs and trade barriers.
Brunei will also co-host a Roundtable Dialogue at the 14th China ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS).
Present at Nanning Wuxu International Airport to greet His Majesty on arrival was His Excellency Lan Tianli, First Vice Governor of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China; and Her Excellency Yang Jian, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam.
Also present to greet His Majesty were Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Retired) Dato Seri Setia (Dr.) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office; and Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi Haji Mohd. Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Upon arrival, His Majesty was presented with a bouquet of flowers, followed by a cultural song and dance performance by local students. His Majesty then boarded a motorcade towards a renowned hotel where His Majesty will be residing throughout the duration of the visit.
Special thanks to the Information Department at the Prime Minister’s Office for providing information and pictures for this story.
