China to Develop Cooperative Ties with Brunei

President Jiang Meets with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin said in Bandar Seri Begawan Friday it is China's set policy to develop long-term and stable relationship of friendly cooperation and good-neighborliness under the principles of peaceful coexistence with Brunei.

China has all along maintained that all countries, no matter big or small, are equal in the world community, Jiang said during his talks with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

He said China and Brunei enjoyed a long history of good neighborhood and the two countries expanded cooperation in the political, economic and cultural areas and in the world and regional affairs.

Jiang said China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges between the two countries, expand all-round mutually-beneficial economic cooperation, encourage different kinds of exchanges between the two peoples, and strengthen cooperation in the world and regional affairs.

The Chinese president, who is on a two-day official visit to Brunei, thanked Brunei for maintaining its "One China policy" and supporting China's course of reunification.

Jiang invited Bolkiah to attend the next APEC leaders meeting to be held in Shanghai, China in 2001. The Sultan accepted the invitation.

Bolkiah said during the talks that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries have been strengthened and expanded.

The two countries will sign three accords later Friday, he said the accords will further promote the development of bilateral cooperation.

Bolkiah stressed Brunei firmly supports the "One China policy."

The two leaders also touched on the issue of world oil prices and agreed that the oil prices should be kept at a reasonable level.

Before starting his first visit to the country on Friday, the Chinese president attended the 8th APEC informal leaders meeting on Thursday.