Asean is obviously a very important association for us. Over the past 30 years Asean has made great strides in regional cooperation covering a number of areas, although recently it has been under strain because of the financial crisis and other challenges.
We will host the Asean summit in November this year. It will be an occasion to reflect on our achievements collectively and to look at how Asean can maintain its leading role in regional and international cooperation.
Today, bilateral relations with Britain are excellent, with cooperation in many areas and both countries continuing to work on strengthening these ties.
The development of our human resources is an area in which we need to do well as it is decisive in determining the success of our diversification programme.
We are considering various ways of making use of our oil and gas downstream industries. This is to be complemented with the import of oil and gas from other sources as raw materials.
Brunei Darussalam is one of the oldest kingdoms in South East Asia.
As a small country, both in size and population, our future hinges on the quality of our people.
There is no conflict between favouring Islamic and traditional values and being more open and international.
