东南亚各国家简介二.doc

Brunei Darussalam 文莱 Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Official Language: Malay Official currency: Brunei Dollar Brunei Darussalam is situated on the northwest of the island of Borneo. It has a total area of 5,765sq km with a coastline of about 161 km along the South China Sea. It is bounded on the north by the South China Sea and on all the other sides by Malaysian State of Sarawak. With an equatorial climate characterized by a uniform high temperature, high humidity and heavy rainfall, there is no distinct wet season in Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Darussalam is divided into four districts. Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital of Brunei Darussalam with an area of about 16 sq km. From the 14th to the 16th centuries Brunei Darussalam was the seat of a powerful sultanate extending its authority over Sabah, Sarawak and the lower Philippines, Thus, the current Sultan represents one of the oldest continuously ruling dynasties in the world. By the 19th century, the Brunei Darussalam Empire hah been whittled away by wars, piracy and the colonial expansion of European powers. In 1847, the Sultan concluded a treaty with Great Britain and in 1888 Brunei Darussalam officially became a British protectorate. The 1959 Agreement established a written constitution that gave Brunei Darussalam internal self-government. In 1971, the agreement was amended and revised to assert full internal independence except defense and external affairs. On January 1, 1984 Brunei Darussalam resumed full independence, and the Sultan took office as Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Home Affairs Minister, presiding over a cabinet of six. In October 1986, the cabinet was expanded to 11 members, with His Majesty relinquishing the portfolios of Finance and Home Affairs and taking over the Defense portfolio that his late father hah held since 1984. In 1988, another reshuffle brought about the elevation of the deputy minister to a full minister and the creation of the Ministry of Industry and