China, Brunei pledge further cooperation

China and Brunei on Wednesday pledged to boost cooperation as Lim Jock Seng, Brunei's second minister of foreign affairs and trade, visited Beijing.

During a meeting with the Brunei official, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang hailed the "healthy and stable" relationship between the two countries as a good example for the rest of the region to follow.

"China will continue attaching great importance to good neighborly cooperation with Brunei," Zhang said, highlighting trade, two-way investment and the energy sector as potential areas for further joint work between the two countries.

Briefing Lim on the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held in November 2012, Zhang said China will stick to the path of peaceful development as well as the strategy of opening up, and make its own development better benefit all neighbors including Brunei.

For his part, Lim voiced Brunei's satisfaction with the development of the bilateral ties.

Brunei pays great attention to the ties and is ready to work with China to advance the cooperation between the two countries in an all-around way, according to Lim.

He said Brunei and all the other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) appreciate China's important contribution to regional peace and prosperity.

Holding the ASEAN's rotating presidency in 2013, Brunei will work together with China to increase exchanges in pursuit of win-win reciprocity and ensure the smooth development of the relationship between China and the bloc.

Besides Brunei, the ASEAN groups Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Lim is visiting China from Tuesday to Thursday at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.

In a separate meeting with Lim earlier on Wednesday, Yang agreed that China will make efforts with Brunei so that the the two nations can strengthen cooperation with each other.

"China is willing to work with Brunei to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in trade and the economy, energy, culture and education, so as to upgrade the China-Brunei cooperation," Yang vowed.

Yang also said China values its role of the ASEAN and hopes to advance China-ASEAN relations through joint efforts so as to make more contribution to regional peace, stability and development.

Lim said Brunei cherishes its friendship and cooperation with China.

In order to achieve a mutually beneficial situation, Brunei will positively advance the development of the strategic cooperative partnership between China and ASEAN during its rotating presidency, the second minister said.