Chinese President Arrives in Brunei

Chinese President Arrives in Brunei

President Jiang Zemin arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan Tuesday night to start his visit to this sultanate.

At the invitation of Sultan and Head of State of Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Jiang is to attend the eighth informal leadership meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) held Thursday.

Jiang, the first Chinese head of state who visited this tiny, oil-rich nation, will also pay a state visit to Brunei from November 17 to 18.

Jiang's entourage who arrived aboard the same plane included his wife Wang Yeping, Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and his wife Zhou Hanqiong, Member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Zeng Qinghong, Minister in charge of the State Development and Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Director of the Policy Research Office of CPC Central Committee Teng Wensheng, Deputy Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and Director of Central Guard Bureau You Xigui, Director of the President's Office Jia Ting'an and Assistant Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Other members of the delegation, including Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) Shi Guangsheng, Vice Foreign Minister Wang Guangya and MOFTEC Chief Negotiator Long Yongtu have already been here to attend the APEC ministerial meeting.

Crowne Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and other senior officials greeted Jiang at the airport.

In a written speech delivered at the airport, Jiang said that China and Brunei are friendly neighbors bordering on the same sea.

With a friendship already lasting more than 1,000 years, Chinese and Brunei peoples forged their deep friendship. Thanks to the concerted efforts made by both sides after the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1991, bilateral relations saw remarkable progress, showing steady development in all fields and a good development momentum.

Jiang said that during the visit he will exchange views with Sultan Bolkiah on promoting the traditional friendship and pushing forward the comprehensive growth of bilateral relations.

He believed the visit will open a new chapter of China-Brunei good-neighborly, friendly and cooperative relations in the new century.

Brunei is the final stop of Jiang's week-long three-nation trip in southeast Asia.