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Borneo Bulletin Yearbook 2021
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
empowers Brunei Darussalam’s foreign policies
and capacity, while also deepening its ties with
other countries.
Through a whole-of-nation approach, which
encourages collaboration between ministries
and related agencies, MFA has been able
to continue preserving and advancing the
country’s interests. This includes ensuring the
sovereignty of the monarch and the country,
and preserving the national identity in terms of
politics, culture and religion while encouraging
regional and international peace, stability and
prosperity.
This was shared by Minister of Foreign Affairs
II Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji
Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd
Yusof at the 16
th
Legislative Council (LegCo)
session in March 2020.
The MFA continues to practise principles that
are in line with the national philosophy of Malay
Islamic Monarchy (MIB), such as forging stronger
ties with countries, ensuring equality in all nations
and upholding its non-interference policy.
The minister said that such a positive foreign
policy has been carried out by the Sultanate
to maintain close relations with other nations
while preserving the good image of the country.
It is made possible with the country’s bilateral
and multilateral approaches of conducting and
receiving state visits, attending international
meetings and cooperating with regional and
international organisations.
Such a commitment to foreign policy has enabled
the country to acquire capability and expertise
through its involvement in initiatives run by the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP),
the World Health Organization (WHO), the
World Trade Organization, the World Bank,
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the
Commonwealth, the Asia-Paci c Economic
Cooperation (APEC) and the Asia-Europe
Meeting (ASEM), while paving the way for
more trade opportunities and investments not
limited to the MFA but also other government
agencies and the private sector.
The minister shared that through the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) and its dialogue partners, funds
have been set up for joint exercises aimed
at enhancing understanding, capability and
expertise between nations while allowing
economic opportunities among its member
states.
He added that it is crucial for Brunei to
continuously strengthen its diplomatic relations
and cooperation with other countries, especially
in the midst of geopolitical uncertainties, geo-
economic instability, crude oil production
disputes, trade wars, the pandemic of COVID-19,
threats of climate change, and terrorism.
Brunei as ASEAN Chair
Brunei Darussalam assumes the ASEAN
Chairmanship in 2021, taking the baton from 2020
ASEAN Chair Vietnam, who had uni ed ASEAN
as the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in
accelerating the post-pandemic recovery, while
also boosting preparedness and advancing the
recovery for a better ASEAN.
Vietnam handed over the symbolical gavel
following the conclusion of the 37
th
ASEAN
Summit in Hanoi on November 15, 2020.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS