Brunei signs key agreements with China
By Helena M. Mahathir and Alex How

Four major agreements were signed and an exchange of notes took place yesterday at the Business Centre, The Empire Hotel and Country Club in conjunction with the two-day state visit by Chinese President Hu Jintao.

The first ceremony was the exchange of notes on the exemption of visas for holders of diplomatic, official and service passports between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of People's Republic of China.

Representing Brunei Darussalam was Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Ms Yang Yanyi, the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Brunei represented the People's Republic of China.

This was followed by the signing of the Plan of Action on Health Cooperation between the Ministry of Health Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Health People's Republic of China, which is the extension of the bilateral relations between the countries in the field of health.

Signing on behalf of Brunei Darussalam was Datin Paduka Dr. Hjh Intan bte Haji Salleh, Acting Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Health. Ms Yang Yanyi signed on behalf of the People's Republic of China.

The scope of cooperation that has been added in the 3rd extension includes surveillance and networking especially in communicable diseases, traditional Chinese medicines in terms of analysis, regulation, registration and integration, oncology, rehabilitation medicine and laboratory services.

Next was the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Brunei-China Friendship Association (BCFA) and China-Brunei Friendship Association (CBFA). Dr. Haji Kamaruddin bin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Talib, President of BCFA, signed on behalf of BCFA while Ms Yang Yanyi signed for CBFA.

The aims of the associations are to facilitate the exchange of business, visit of entrepreneurs and exchange of people and culture, as well as tourism.

The fourth ceremony was the signing of Sale of Oil Agreement 2005 between Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd (BSP) and China Petrochemical International Company (SINOPEC), by Marcel Luijten, Finance Director, BSP and Mr Yang Dong, Vice President of China Petrochemical International Company.

The contract which took effect January 1, 2005 is for the supply of 10,000 barrels per day of Champion Export Crude Oil until December 31 this year, marking the 5th year of term business between the two companies.

The last ceremony was the signing of Agreement between B-Mobile Communications Sdn Bhd and Huawei Technology Company, by Dato Paduka Haji Othman Hj Ya'akub, Director of B-Mobile Communications, and Mr Wang Shengli, Senior Vice President of Huawei Technology Company.

The Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has awarded the second mobile licence to a consortium between Telekom Brunei (TelBru) and QAF Comserve based on the 3G technology of Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) on February 1, 2005. B-Mobile Communications - a joint venture company - was established to provide the 3G service in the country. - Borneo Bulletin (21st Apr 2005)


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