Senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Zhou Yongkang met with Brunei Foreign and Trade Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah yesterday evening.

The meeting came as Zhou made a transit stop in Brunei on his way back to China.

Zhou, one of the nine-member Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, hailed the sound and smooth growth of China-Brunei ties since the two forged diplomatic ties in 1991.

Zhou said that particularly in recent years, the all-round friendly cooperation between the two countries has been strengthened, thanks to the joint efforts of leaderships, governments and peoples of the two countries.

China and Brunei have been understanding, supporting and closely cooperating with each other on regional and international issues, he said.

Zhou also lauded Brunei's role as a coordinator in deepening the strategic partnership between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Zhou said China would continue to pursue its long-term neighbor friendship with Brunei and would like to work with Brunei to take the relations to a new high.

Mohamed congratulated China on successfully hosting the Beijing Olympics and the summit of Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM).

The friendship between the peoples of China and Brunei can be traced back to the time earlier than the establishment of diplomatic ties, he said.

He pledged Brunei would support China's increasingly important role in regional and international affairs.

He said Brunei would like to work with China to seek common development.

Before his transit in Brunei yesterday, Zhou concluded his fortnight trip to the three Asia-Pacific nations, namely Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia.