Brunei, Philippines to boost ties

HM hails Aquino aid for Brunei's ASEAN Chair.

BRUNEI Darussalam and the Philippines have agreed to deepen cooperation in various areas of development to boost bilateral and ASEAN relations.

"As ASEAN Chair for this year, Brunei Darussalam will continue to work closely with the Philippines towards achieving concrete outcomes in economic growth and social progress and in promoting regional peace and stability," His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said in his titah during a state luncheon hosted by Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at Malacanang Palace yesterday.

His Majesty, who arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Monday, paid a two-day visit to the country that ended yesterday.

His Majesty said he appreciated President Aquino's continued support for Brunei Darussalam's chairing of the regional bloc, and said he looked forward to welcoming the president to the Sultanate for the ASEAN Summit on April 24-25. The monarch also commended President Aquino on the initiatives he had taken to promote peace and reconciliation in the southern Philippines and assured the president that Brunei Darussalam would continue to provide assistance to its peacekeeping efforts.

On the bilateral front, His Majesty said he was very much impressed with the progress and development made by the Philippines since his last visit to the country in 2009.

"Mr president, I am happy to reaffirm the long-standing friendship and cooperation that exists between our two countries," the monarch said, adding that both countries' public and private sectors, as well as their citizens, had established close ties that reflected the quality and strength of the nations' relations.

His Majesty was also pleased to see that both governments were working together in areas such as agriculture, education, defence and more recently, energy.

Brunei Darussalam is happy to be hosting more than 20,000 Philippine citizens, who are making a significant contribution to Brunei Darussalam's development, His Majesty said.

He added that he believed there were many areas where the people of both countries could promote trade and investment.

At the end of his titah, His Majesty extended the people of Brunei Darussalam's best wishes for lasting peace, happiness and prosperity in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, President Aquino in his speech said that as a brother nation in ASEAN, his country was committed to nurturing relations with Brunei and other Southeast Asian states and promoting economic and cultural ties and maritime security. "This is our pledge, to continue working with our neighbours in implementing the commitments of ASEAN member states in the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and in moving forward with negotiations for the adoption of a Code of Conduct, the president said. Aquino said he was confident that under Brunei Darussalam's chair this year the region would move further along the path to harmony and sustainable development. "I look forward to working with Your Majesty in building a Southeast Asia that is truly an abode of peace for all peoples", the president said.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times