Chinese President Hu Jintao meets Brunei Sultan

Source: Xinhua | 10-24-2008 08:26

BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao met here on Thursday afternoon with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah who is here to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held on Oct. 24 to 25.

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands on Thursday  afternoon with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah who is in  Beijing to attend the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)  to be held on Oct. 24 to 25.(Xinhua Photo)

Hu expressed his appreciation of Brunei's support for China in hosting the meeting.

As Asia's coordinator, Brunei has undertaken a large amount of work in the preparations for the meeting, he said, adding that China was willing to continue to cooperate with Brunei to achieve the meeting's success.

He said since China and Brunei established diplomatic relations17 years ago, the bilateral relations have been greatly improved, and the two countries had maintained good communication and coordination in international and regional affairs.

He said China was willing to further cooperate with Brunei in terms of transport, communications, energy, agriculture, infrastructure construction and tourism in order to promote Sino-Bruneian relations to a new stage.

Bolkiah said during the meeting that he was glad that the two sides maintained good relations and close cooperation.

He hoped the two countries could enhance cooperation in terms of rice production and energy development.

He said the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is held at a crucial time. As Asia's coordinator, Brunei was willing to contribute to the meeting's success.

Established as a high-level forum between governments of Asia and Europe, the ASEM this year is expected to focus on how to respond to the current global financial crisis.

Launched in 1996 as an informal dialogue mechanism, the biennial ASEM now includes 45 members, representing more than 50 percent of the world's gross domestic product.

Editor:Du Xiaodan