Full coverage: China’s Leaders

BEIJING, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah exchanged congratulations on Friday to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties.

In his message to Hassanal, Xi said China and Brunei have enjoyed a long friendship, and over the past 25 years, their ties have undergone a sound and fast development as both sides have continuously deepened their political mutual trust, steadily advanced their all-round cooperation and maintained close coordination in regional and international affairs.

The Chinese leader also noted that the two sides have stuck to the principle of mutual respect and treated each other as equals, setting a good example of how big and small countries can co-exist on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

China would like to work with Brunei to promote their traditional friendship and deepen cooperation of mutual benefit so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, and make an even greater contribution to maintaining regional peace and development, he added.

In his message to Xi, the sultan said the two nations have deepened their relations and strengthened the friendship between the two peoples over the past 25 years.

He said the events co-sponsored by the two sides to mark this year's anniversary have brought the two peoples even closer and promoted their mutual understanding, adding that he believes cooperation between the two countries in all areas will further boost the development of bilateral ties.