(Bandar Seri Begawan, 27th) The Brunei Chinese Literary and Arts Association held a banquet at Hainan Cafe on the afternoon of April 26, 2026, to welcome presidents of associations and renowned writers from the United States, Australia, and Taiwan region. This group of literary friends had just attended the 13th World Chinese Writers Conference held in Miri, East Malaysia, and subsequently arrived in Brunei to embark on a cultural exchange visit.
The association president, Chen Lizhen, delivered a welcome speech at the banquet, extending a warm welcome to the literary friends who had traveled from afar. Local representatives attending the welcoming banquet included council members Zhu Yunli, Lin Yuantai, Zhan Xingmin, Huang Bingxian, Lin Meiyu, Huang Linming, and member Xu Xin, among others.
The visiting literary friends included: from the United States, Chen Zeping, Vice President of the North American Chinese Writers Association; Li Jiayin, President of the Chinese Writers Association of San Francisco Bay Area; and Shi Xi, Chairperson of the International Chinese Art Association. From China, Professor and Council Member of the Chinese World Chinese Literature Association at Shaoxing University, Gu Muyong; and from Australia, members of the Australian Chinese Writers Association Lu Jianzhang and Peng Shanshan (columnist for China Xinhua TV, currently residing in Cairns).
During the event, both hosts and guests engaged in friendly discussions on topics such as Chinese literary creation, cultural heritage, and cross-regional exchange, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
After the banquet, the guests visited several famous local attractions in the afternoon, including The Empire Hotel, the Brunei Water Village known as the "Venice of the East," and the area around the Istana Nurul Iman Palace, experiencing firsthand the local unique humanistic and natural features. The itinerary was arranged by the guests themselves, with the association not accompanying them throughout.
This exchange has further deepened the connection between Brunei and the overseas Chinese literary and arts community, laying a foundation for ongoing cross-regional cultural cooperation in the future.