Ramos ends Brunei visit

Ramos ends Brunei visit

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos left here for home yesterday after a three-day state visit to oil-rich Brunei to enhance bilateral ties, trade and investment, officials said.

Ramos departed with wife Amelita and a nine-member delegation comprising the foreign affairs, trade and communications secretaries, the armed forces chief, four legislators and the head of Manila's state-owned power firm.

During his visit, the president held talks with Brunei head of state Prince Hassanal Bolkiah and attended a state banquet, during which the two leaders agreed on the need for solidarity to fuel economic growth in Southeast Asia.

Ramos said at the banquet late Saturday that peace and stability were paramount if Southeast Asian countries were to collectively exploit each other's advantages for regional prosperity.