Education plays key role in Jordan-Brunei ties — embassy

AMMAN — Brunei Darussalam Ambassador Nooradin Haji Yaakob has expressed keenness to advance his country’s ties with Jordan.

In a statement marking Brunei’s national day, which the embassy celebrated on Monday, the ambassador said the two countries this year mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of relations.

“Both countries enjoy warm and cordial brotherly relations. This is reflected in the continued exchange of visits and meetings between the royal families as well as officials of the two countries for the last 30 years,” the statement said.

The diplomat noted that education plays an important role in bilateral ties, “which continue to prosper and develop year by year”.

“Although the number of Bruneian students in the Kingdom is small, it is hoped that it would help in developing people-to-people contacts between the two brotherly people,” the statement added.

Brunei Darussalam, which gained its full independent on January 1, 1984, is located in the Malay Archipelago with an area of 5,765 square kilometres.

The country’s multi-ethnic population of 406,000 is categorised into three main groups, namely Malays, Chinese and others.

Malay is the official language of the country, while English is widely spoken. According to the embassy statement, Islam is the official religion and a way of life for the people of Brunei as enshrined in its constitution.

The statement noted that the activities of society in Brunei Darussalam revolve around its Malay culture and Islamic faith, adding that non-Muslims practise their religions in peace and harmony.

Fully aware that oil and gas are finite natural resources, Brunei Darussalam is promoting the diversification of its industries and development of human resources in order to reduce its dependence on oil and gas, according to the statement.

Brunei’s goal for economic diversification also depends on a positive relationship with its partners from around the world, especially member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

ASEAN’s members are:  Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  

The association has a market of over 600 million consumers and a combined gross domestic product of nearly $3 trillion.

Brunei Darussalam became the chair of ASEAN in 2013 under the theme “Our People, Our Future Together”, according to the statement.