Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh welcomed Brunei Ambassador Pengiran Haji Sahari Penrigan Haji Salleh. (Source: VGP)

Below is the full text of the interview.

Could you please share with us your assessments of Viet Nam-Brunei relationship in recent time?

Since the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 1992, the ties between Brunei Darussalam and Viet Nam have grown from strength to strength. The good personal relations between our leaders have also set the tone for a solid partnership based on shared respect and understanding. This is evident through the numerous exchanges of visits, including by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam to Viet Nam in March 2019, and by the late President Tran Dai Quang to Brunei Darussalam in August 2016. The elevation of our ties to a Comprehensive Partnership during His Majesty's State Visit in 2019 was testament to shared commitment in further enhancing these much-valued relations in the years ahead.

Both countries continue to enjoy good progress in trade, energy, agriculture and fisheries, education, people-to-people exchange and defence. On the economic front, Viet Nam is an important trading partner for Brunei Darussalam, with bilateral trade amounting to 209 million BND from January to August 2021. There is much potential to be explored, as both sides work in tandem towards achieving the trade target of 500 million USD by 2025.

It is important to advance cooperation between both countries' Chambers of Commerce and encourage the private sectors to engage one another to explore mutually beneficial collaborations. Enhancing further the energy trade flows between Brunei Darussalam and Viet Nam is vital to achieving our trade goals. In this regard, we look forward to more opportunities to increase energy trade volumes between both countries, particularly crude oil, methanol and petroleum products.

In the area of agriculture and fisheries, Brunei Darussalam appreciates the technical assistance provided by Viet Nam, particularly in the exchange of best practices in rice production and farming of fresh water fish. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the Use of the Hotline for Information Exchange to address Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing between the two countries in March 2019 is also a good initiative to promote exchange of information on this important matter.

Significant progress has also been achieved in the area of education. Brunei Darussalam offers annual Government Scholarships for foreign students to study at several higher-education institutions in our country, with a total of 11 Vietnamese students being awarded scholarships since 1995. In 2017, Brunei Darussalam committed to providing 50 scholarships to enhance professional communication skills for citizens from ASEAN countries, including Viet Nam over a period of 5 years. In 2020, 10 Vietnamese nationals were awarded this scholarship, and we hope that they will find their experience a useful one.

Viet Nam is also a popular destination for Bruneian students. Since 2013, around 557 students from Universiti Brunei Darussalam have chosen to undertake their Discovery Year Programme in various institutions and universities in Viet Nam. We are grateful to Viet Nam for hosting our students under this programme, which provides them opportunities to experience Vietnamese culture and traditions. The challenges brought about by the COVID19 pandemic have resulted in the postponement of this programme, but we hope for its resumption in the near future.

We are also happy with the establishment of Universiti Brunei Darussalam's very first overseas campus in Da Nang in 2017, which we believe is in line with the Government of Viet Nam's aspiration to establish Da Nang as the first English-proficient, start-up city in the country. We look forward to welcoming more students from Viet Nam to Brunei Darussalam, and also encouraging them to apply for the scholarship programme at the UBD - FPT Global Centre in Da Nang.

Defence cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and Viet Nam has also grown substantially over the years, and now includes activities such as personnel training and courses, intelligence exchanges, port calls and exchanges of visits and meetings at all levels. These ties are important and will help contribute to our overall efforts in regional and international forums.

There has also been an increase in people-to-people exchanges, with Viet Nam becoming a popular tourist destination for many Bruneians. I believe exchanges between our two countries will continue to flourish once direct flights between Bandar Seri Begawan and Ho Chi Minh City resume. Our youth and sports exchanges have also been very encouraging, with active participation in the events organised by each other's countries. We hope to reinvigorate our efforts to bring our people together, as this will help to create opportunities for our business people and investors to work together, while also strengthening the trust and understanding between Brunei Darussalam and Viet Nam.

Overall, Brunei Darussalam and Viet Nam have managed to build excellent cooperation between our two countries, and we look forward to continued efforts under the Comprehensive Partnership for the benefit of our two countries and peoples.

The national flags of Viet Nam and Brunei. (Source: nhandan.vn)

2022 is the 30^th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Viet Nam and Brunei. What are the Embassy's intended events?

To celebrate this very important milestone in our relations, there was an exchange of messages between the leaders of our two countries to commemorate the 30^th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Viet Nam and Brunei Darussalam.

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam looks forward to greater opportunities to celebrate this meaningful year with the Government and people of Viet Nam.

What are your comments on the Viet Nam - Brunei cooperation in ASEAN and other multilateral forums such as the United Nations?

Viet Nam and Brunei Darussalam continue to be close partners in the regional and international fora. Since assuming the membership of ASEAN in Bandar Seri Begawan in 1995, Viet Nam's achievements and active contributions to the work of the association have been remarkable.

Brunei Darussalam also values Viet Nam's support for our priorities and deliverables during Brunei Darussalam's Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2021. It is important for us to remain united in our common endeavor to build a strong and resilient ASEAN Community, particularly as we continue to face unprecedented challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this note, Brunei Darussalam will continue to work closely with Viet Nam and other ASEAN Member States towards realising the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 for the continued peace, stability and prosperity of our region. We will also continue to engage with our external partners to uphold ASEAN Centrality and on efforts for regional recovery.

Over the years, it is also heartening that Brunei Darussalam and Viet Nam have consistently supported one another in the multilateral arena. In this regard, Brunei Darussalam congratulates Viet Nam on successfully completing its tenure as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2020 - 2021. We look forward to further occasions to advocate for the interests of our two countries and the wider regional agenda towards continued peace, stability, prosperity and development.

Could you share your impressions when living and working in Viet Nam, especially in the context of the COVID - 19 pandemic?

I have been living and working in Ha Noi for more than 8 years, and can testify to the warmth and generosity of the people of Viet Nam. I am also very grateful for the kind hospitality extended to me and our Embassy during my time here. Even with the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have felt safe and cared for, and we applaud Viet Nam's efforts in containing the pandemic.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the Government of Viet Nam for facilitating the provision of COVID-19 vaccinations to the Embassy of Brunei Darussalam as well as Bruneians living here in Viet Nam. This truly reflects the caring nature of the Vietnamese people and our shared determination in overcoming the pandemic.

Thank you, Ambassador.