BOLKIAH GARRISON, Wednesday 8 May 2013 – The Ministry of Defence this afternoon received an official visit by the State Councilor and Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency General Chang Wanquan and delegation.
Upon arrival at the Bolkiah Garrison, His Excellency was welcomed by the Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat. Also in attendance to welcome His Excellency and delegation were the Defence Executive Members, services commanders, commandants, military and civilian directors from the Ministry of Defence.
On arrival, His Excellency General Chang Wanquan was accorded with a Guard of Honour mounted by personnel from the 2nd Battalion Royal Brunei Land Force. After inspecting the Guard of Honour, His Excellency proceeded to the Briefing Room, Tower Block, for a briefing on the Ministry of Defence and followed by a bilateral discussion.
The visit is part of the ongoing warm bilateral cooperation that has existed between the Ministry of Defense, Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of National Defense, People’s Republic of China. During the bilateral meeting, both sides agreed to continue the exchange of high level visits and further expand the scope to include exchanges between junior level officers. Discussions also touched on the ways forward to strengthen the existing bilateral relations, and enhance military-to-military cooperation between both ministries. Both countries also reaffirmed their strong commitment in working together towards a peaceful and stable region through the defence and security mechanisms such as ASEAN and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus).
His Excellency General Chang Wanquan and delegation are in the country since 6th May on a 4-day official visit and expected to depart on 9th May 2013. Also included in the visit itinerary are visits to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Defence Academy as well as a visit to the Performance Optimisation Centre (POC).
The defence relation between Brunei Darussalam and the People’s Republic of China was incepted through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation between defence establishments of both countries back in September 2003. The MOU is a historic and significant milestone reflecting the commitment of both countries to broaden defence cooperation in mutually beneficial areas.
MENTERI PERTAHANAN REPUBLIK RAKYAT CHINA KUNJUNGI KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN
BOLKIAH GARISON, Rabu 8 Mei 2013
– Kementerian Pertahanan petang ini menerima lawatan rasmi dari Ahli
Dewan Undangan Negeri dan Menteri Pertahanan Negara, Republik Rakyat
China, Tuan Yang Terutama Jeneral Chang Wanquan dan rombongan.
Ketibaan
Tuan Yang Terutama telah dialu-alukan oleh Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan,
Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat. Turut hadir untuk
mengalu-alukan Tuan Yang Terutama dan delegasi ialah ahli-ahli
Jawatankuasa Eksekutif Pertahanan, Pemerintah-Pemerintah Angkatan
Tentera, Kommandan-kommandan, Pengarah-pengarah tentera dan awam dari
Kementerian Pertahanan.
Tuan
Yang Terutama Jeneral Chang Wanquan menerima tabik hormat dan memeriksa
kawalan kehormatan yang terdiri dari anggota Batalion ke-2 Tentera
Darat Diraja Brunei. Selepas memeriksa Kawalan Kehormatan, Tuan Yang
Terutama beredar ke Bilik Taklimat, Blok Menara, bagi sesi taklimat
mengenai Kementerian Pertahanan dan diikuti oleh perbincangan dua hala.
Lawatan
ini adalah sebahagian daripada kerjasama dua hala yang berterusan yang
telah wujud di antara Kementerian Pertahanan, Negara Brunei Darussalam
dan Kementerian Pertahanan Nasional, Republik Rakyat China. Semasa
mesyuarat dua hala, kedua-dua pihak bersetuju untuk meneruskan
pertukaran lawatan di peringkat tinggi dan memperluaskan skop untuk
merangkumi pertukaran antara pegawai-pegawai muda. Perbincangan juga
menyentuh mengenai cara-cara ke hadapan untuk mengukuhkan hubungan dua
hala yang sedia ada, dan meningkatkan kerjasama tentera-ke-tentera
antara kedua-dua kementerian. Kedua-dua negara juga mengesahkan komitmen
untuk bekerja bersama-sama ke arah satu rantau yang aman dan stabil
melalui mekanisma-mekanisma pertahanan dan keselamatan seperti ASEAN dan
Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Pertahanan ASEAN Plus (ADMM Plus).
Tuan
Yang Terutama Jeneral Chang Wanquan dan rombongan berada di negara ini
sejak 6 Mei dalam rangka lawatan rasmi empat hari dan dijangka berlepas
pada 9 Mei 2013. Juga termasuk dalam susunan lawatan adalah lawatan ke
Akademi Pertahanan Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei serta lawatan ke
Pusat Kecergasan Optima (POC).
Hubungan
pertahanan antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Republik Rakyat China
bermula melalui majlis penandatanganan Memorandum Persefahaman Dalam
Kerjasama Pertahanan kedua-dua negara pada September 2003. MOU ini
merupakan peristiwa bersejarah dan penting yang mencerminkan komitmen
kedua-dua negara untuk meluaskan kerjasama pertahanan dalam bidang yang
memberi kemanfaatan bersama.