China and Brunei Mark 35 Years of Ties with Vow to Deepen Strategic Alignment

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah exchanged congratulatory messages on September 30 to mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations, according to Chinese state media. Both leaders reaffirmed commitments to consolidate their bilateral relationship and build a shared future. Sultan Hassanal specifically highlighted plans to expand cooperation across economic investment, defense, and cultural exchanges, while Xi emphasized mutual respect between large and small nations as a foundation for broader regional prosperity.

The exchange underscores Beijing's ongoing effort to maintain durable bilateral relationships with Southeast Asian neighbors amid broader regional geopolitical competition. By reaffirming mutual trust with Brunei—a fellow claimant in the South China Sea that typically pursues quiet diplomacy—China signals its preference for bilateral consensus-building and highlights stability in its periphery.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah exchanged congratulatory messages on September 30 to commemorate the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, official state media reported. In his message, Xi stated that the traditional friendship between China and Brunei has maintained enduring strength. He noted that over the past 35 years, both sides have established a model of mutual respect, equality, and common development between nations of different sizes. Xi observed that political mutual trust has steadily deepened, accompanied by productive practical cooperation across various sectors and increasingly frequent people-to-people exchanges. Xi recalled the state visit made by Sultan Hassanal to China in 2025, during which the two heads of state reached an understanding to construct a China-Brunei community with a shared future, an agreement that state media described as initiating a new phase of bilateral ties. The Chinese leader expressed his readiness to use the 35th anniversary milestone to align development strategies, advance mutually beneficial projects, and contribute to wider regional stability. In his corresponding message, Sultan Hassanal remarked that bilateral relations over the past 35 years have been consistently grounded in mutual trust, respect, and mutual understanding. Recalling the 2025 consensus on building a community with a shared future, the Sultan expressed expectations to tighten bilateral links by expanding exchanges and cooperation in trade, investment, defense, and cultural affairs to deliver tangible benefits to both populations. The exchange reflects Beijing's continuing diplomatic emphasis on nurturing steady ties with member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. While Brunei maintains overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, Bandar Seri Begawan has traditionally pursued an understated, bilateral approach to resolving maritime questions, preserving an amicable relationship with Beijing focused heavily on trade and downstream petrochemical investments.