BiG Buzz : Painting A Path To The Belt & Road Initiative

Move over Picasso! Brunei’s young students were feted for their talents at the recent 5th Brunei Primary School Students Painting Competition Award which is held annually thanks to the cooperation of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam and Brunei’s Ministry of Education. This year’s theme of ‘The Belt and Road Initiative’,  saw over 80 works submitted by 16 schools across the nation and according to the Ambassador of China to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Xiao Jianguo, showed “their understanding of the BRI, their support to China-Brunei friendship  and cooperation, as well as the youngster’s vigor and strength to inherit and carry forward by Chinese president, Xi Jinping, to expedite connectivity of infrastructure, unimpeded trade and financial integration covering 65 core countries across Asia, Africa and Europe.

Brunei is an important link of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, noted Ambassador Xiao in his opening remarks at the exhibition to celebrate the submitted entries. “Since the bilateral BRI cooperation agreement was signed in 2017, it has bloomed into abundant fruitful results. Flagship projects such as Hengyi Industries and Muara Port have increased employment opportunities, expanded the industrial chain, and injected more impetus in Brunei’s efforts in achieving economic diversification and Vision 2035,” explained H.E Xiao who also highlighted major successes like the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge that was co-constructed by China State Construction Engineering Corporation; the commercial 5G launch by Huawei; the new progress of Brunei’s agricultural and fishery products exported to China, and the planting of hybrid rice donated by China in Temburong, in his speech.

Yang Mulia Dr. Shamsiah, the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, Yang Mulia Professor Dr Azam, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, representatives of the chairmen of the board and principals of schools, teachers, students and parents with a number of over 100 people attended the ceremony.