China And Brunei Celebrate 35 Years Of Friendship With Culture, Food And Historic Exchange Events

Brunei and China are celebrating 35 years of diplomatic relations with cultural events showing their countries’ friendship and artistic ties. Through performances, exhibitions and other events, Brunei and China are dedicated to building social and cultural ties and mutual understanding. The Brunei China Food Festival and the signing of the Cooperation Agreement show China and Brunei’s will to develop their cultural and other cooperation and exchange activities.

To mark this important milestone, the China Intercontinental Communication Center (CICC), under China’s State Council Information Office, organised a series of events in Brunei, including the “My Dream” cultural performances, the Brunei China Food Festival 2026 and the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement. Through the power of arts, cuisine and cultural collaboration, the initiatives highlighted the shared values and growing ties between China and Brunei.

On September 18 and 19, artists with disabilities from China and Brunei came together for two special editions of the “My Dream” performance at the theatre of Jerudong International School. The event was jointly organised by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam, CICC, Brunei’s Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and the Brunei-China Friendship Association, with support from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Brunei’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

More than 1,100 guests attended the two performances, including members of Prince Mohamed Bolkiah’s family, Pengiran Shamhary, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Mohd Riza bin Haji Mohd Yunos, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications, government representatives, foreign envoys and community leaders.

The audience also included representatives from Brunei’s business, arts and education sectors, people with disabilities and young people, reflecting the event’s focus on inclusion, cultural connection and social cooperation.

Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Chen Shaochun highlighted the achievements of China-Brunei relations over the past 35 years and reaffirmed China’s commitment to strengthening friendship and cooperation with neighbouring countries. He said China would continue working with Brunei under the strategic guidance of both countries’ leaders to enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation in various sectors and support the development of a China-Brunei community with a shared future.

In a written message for the occasion, Pengiran Shamhary said cultural exchanges and artistic performances provide important opportunities for both nations to understand each other’s traditions, values and aspirations. He noted that arts and culture serve as a bridge between communities, encouraging cooperation, friendship and empowerment.

The “My Dream” programme featured 45 performers from the China Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe, who presented more than 10 performances, including internationally recognised works such as “Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva” and “Scholars with Paper Fans.”

The Chinese artists were joined by 20 local performers with disabilities from Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam and Pusat Bahagia. Together, they performed popular songs including “The Moon Represents My Heart” and “Aku yang Dulu Bukan yang Sekarang,” creating an emotional experience that received enthusiastic applause from audiences.

The Chinese troupe also visited schools and communities across Brunei, allowing more residents to experience their performances and learn about the determination, creativity and resilience of artists with disabilities.

Dr Muhammad Firdaus bin Abdul Rahman, President of the Brunei-China Friendship Association, said the troupe’s return to Brunei after more than two decades, especially through collaboration with local artists with disabilities, reflected the strong and lasting friendship between the two countries. He added that cultural connections continue to support closer people-to-people relationships and contribute to the shared future of China and Brunei.

The celebrations continued on September 20 with the opening ceremony and reception of the Brunei China Food Festival 2026 at Emperor’s Court Restaurant.

During the festival, master chefs from Donglaishun and Quanjude showcased traditional Chinese culinary skills and heritage techniques. The chefs demonstrated signature preparations, including hand-slicing lamb and roasting ducks using traditional methods, introducing guests to Beijing’s halal cuisine and China’s wider halal food culture.

The opening ceremony welcomed Legislative Council members Suyoi Osman and Lau How Teck, government representatives, community leaders and guests from different sectors of Brunei society.

Ambassador Chen described food as a universal language that connects people beyond borders. He encouraged guests to explore China’s diverse culinary traditions and experience the country’s rich heritage, openness and cultural diversity through cuisine.

The week-long festival invited the public to discover Chinese food traditions while experiencing different aspects of Chinese culture.

As part of the anniversary activities, CICC and the Brunei-China Friendship Association also signed a framework agreement to establish a long-term strategic partnership. The agreement covers cooperation in arts and culture, youth exchanges, cultural tourism, food culture, charitable initiatives and people-to-people exchanges across ASEAN.

At the signing ceremony, Huang Jing, Director of CICC’s Cultural Exchange Center, said the organisation would continue working with Bruneian partners to develop more community-focused cultural exchange programmes that strengthen personal connections between people in both countries.

The 35th anniversary celebrations demonstrate the continuing importance of cultural diplomacy in China-Brunei relations, using arts, food and cooperation as tools to deepen understanding and create stronger bonds between the two societies.