Chinese President Jiang Zemin said on Sunday that China will make unremitting efforts in further strengthening the relations of good neighborliness, friendship and cooperation with Brunei Darussalam.
Jiang made the statement in a congratulation message to Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan & Yang Di- Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Jiang said China and Brunei Darussalam are friendly neighbors across the sea. Friendly exchanges between the two peoples can be traced back to a thousand years ago.
"The establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Brunei Darussalam ten years ago opened a new chapter for the development of our bilateral relations," he said.
"The past ten years have witnessed the rapid progress in friendly exchanges and cooperation in various fields like politics, economy, culture, health, education and etc. on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence," Jiang said.
"The Joint Communique that China and Brunei Darussalam issued in 1999 on the direction of the future bilateral cooperation has charted a new course for the long-term development of our relationship," he added.
Also on the occasion in a congratulation message to Prince Mohammed Bolkiah, minister of foreign affairs of Brunei Darussalam, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan said he is ready to work with his Brunei Darussalam's counterpart to carry out the cooperative programs as stipulated in the Joint Communique.
Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen said in his message to Prince Mohammed Bolkiah that he is fully convinced that under the guidance of the principle of the Joint Communique, the relations between the two countries will be further developed.
People's Daily 09/30/2001)
