By Sonia K.
Jiangsu province in the People's Republic of China yesterday opened the China-Brunei Friendship Hall, an exhibition hall of Bruneian Culture and Heritage, situated in the Brunei Heritage Garden.
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, officiated the opening ceremony of the Friendship Hall.
Her Royal Highness is on an official visit to China.
The Garden is a historical site surrounding the tomb of an ancient Ruler of Brunei, Maharaja Karna, who died while visiting China in the 1400s.
In Her Royal Highness's speech to officiate the opening of the Friendship Hall, Her Royal Highness expressed appreciation to the Jiangsu people for their effort in restoring and maintaining the valuable historic site that signifies relations between Brunei and China.
The Vice Mayor of Nanjing, Madam Xu Huiling, also delivered a speech. She welcomed Her Royal Highness to Nanjing and thanked Her Royal Highness for further strengthening the good relations between Brunei and China.
After the opening ceremony, Her Royal Highness was given a tour of the exhibition hall.
During the afternoon, Her Royal Highness visited the urban planning and construction exhibition hall in Nanjing and toured an exhibition showing Nanjing's history and culture.
Her Royal Highness then visited the Yunjing Brocade Research Centre where Her Royal Highness was shown the famous Yunjing brocade, and informed of the Centre's long history.
In the evening, Her Royal Highness attended a dinner hosted in her honour by Huang Lixin, Vice Governor of Jiangsu Province. Prior to the dinner, Her Royal Highness and Huang Lixin exchanged views on relations between the two countries.
Throughout the official visit, Her Royal Highness is accompanied by Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Hj Abu Bakar.
- Borneo Bulletin
(8th Apr 2006)
