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.