Visiting President Jiang Zemin held talks with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in the Palace of Brunei on Nov. 17, 2000, during which they exchanged views and ideas and reached consensus on how to further advance bilateral relations in the new century in a friendly atmosphere.

Bolkiah expressed gratitude and extended welcome to President Jiang for accepting his invitation to attend the APEC Informal Leadership Meeting and pay a state visit to Brunei for the first time.

Jiang said that he was very pleased to visit Brunei at the invitation of Bolkiah and expressed gratitude for the warm reception and accommodation accorded to him by the Brunei government. He went on to say that though it is the first day of his state visit to Brunei, he has learned quite a lot about Brunei since he attended the APEC Informal Leadership Meeting held in Brunei in the past two days. He expressed admiration for the achievements that Brunei people have scored under the leadership of the Sultan and congratulated the Sultan upon the successful hosting of APEC meeting by Brunei.

Jiang pointed out that contacts between China and Brunei enjoy a long history and the two countries have become very good neighbors since ancient times. Since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1991, the exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural and other fields have been unfolding and they have carried out close coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs. He recalled that the Sultan paid a successful visit to China once again the year before, during which the two countries issued a joint communiqué on future bilateral cooperation, charting the direction for the good-neighborly and friendly cooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust and support.

Jiang went on to say that the two countries have made gratifying progress in realizing the goals laid out in the joint communiqué. He noted that bilateral trade volume has been on the rise and cooperation between the two countries in education, tourism, public health and civil aviation has registered new progress since this year. Bolkiah said that he completely agreed with Jiang on his appraisal of bilateral relations, adding that the bilateral relations are good. He noted that bilateral cooperation and friendly relations have been further strengthened and expanded particularly since the two countries established diplomatic ties. During President Jiang?s visit to Brunei, the two countries will sign 3 agreements, which will further promote the development of bilateral cooperation.

Bolkiah expressed pleasure that China will host the 9th APEC Informal Leadership Meeting in Shanghai next year. He said that he will be very pleased to attend the high level meeting on capacity building of human resources to be held in China at the invitation of President Jiang.

Jiang also expressed appreciation to Brunei for its adherence to the One China policy and its support to the peaceful reunification of China.

Jiang said that China has all along maintained that all countries, big or small, are equal in the world community, adding that it is China's set policy to develop long-term, stable, friendly and good-neighborly relations with Brunei on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. He noted that next year will mark the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Brunei and the political basis of bilateral relations has been more solid than ever in the past 10 years. Mutually beneficially cooperation has entered into a new period of all-round development. China stands ready to continue to make concerted efforts with Brunei in the following aspects so as to bring the bilateral relationship in the new period to a higher stage.

Firstly, the two countries should maintain high-level exchanges with a view to enhancing the understanding and friendship between the two countries. China looks forward to having the Sultan in China to attend the high level meeting of APEC on human resources to be held in China in 2001. He said that the Sultan is more than welcome to visit China and to have a look there. Meanwhile, Prince Mohamed and Princess Masna are also more than welcome to visit China next year.

Secondly, the two countries should expand all-round mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields. The two countries can consider giving priority to cooperation in petroleum and chemicals, tourism and agriculture. The two countries are going to sign agreements on protecting investment and cooperation in tourism, which will definitely give a boost to the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

Thirdly, exchanges between the two peoples in diversified forms should be encouraged, including the exchanges between the youths of the two countries and exchanges in the fields of culture and education.

Fourthly, the two countries should strengthen cooperation in the world and regional affairs. Brunei favors seeking common ground while reserving differences, consensus through consultations and stepping up dialogues in ASEAN, ARF, East Asia Cooperation, APEC and ASEM, which commands the respect of the other countries. It is China?s hope and conviction that as a member of ASEAN, Brunei will continue to play its unique role in promoting peace and development of the region. China will, as always, maintain good coordination and cooperation with Brunei.

Bolkiah said that he agreed with the above-mentioned suggestions, adding that Brunei is very satisfied and pleased that the cooperation projects between the two countries have made notable headway since the two countries issued the joint communiqué last year. He thanked President Jiang for his invitation to the leaders of Brunei to visit China. He stressed that Brunei stands ready to expand and strengthen friendly cooperation with China in all fields. He also voiced the hope that the two countries can step up people-to-people contacts.

He stressed that Brunei will continue to support the One China policy.

During the talks, President Jiang also expressed admiration for the contributions made by Bolkiah to the development of bilateral relations. 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.