Kunming, July 23rd—Sun Haiyan, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today on the afternoon with Pema Choden, Foreign Secretary of Bhutan, who was in China for the 8th China-South Asia Exposition.  

Sun said, China and Bhutan are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. In recent years, the two countries have maintained high-level exchanges and enjoyed rapid development in practical cooperation in various fields. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges and contacts with Bhutan through inter-party and other channels, to push China-Bhutan relations for continuous development.  

Pema Choden said, China is an important neighbor of Bhutan. China's rapid development is good news for countries in the region, including Bhutan, and the world at large. Bhutan attaches great importance to developing relations with China, hopes to get on board the express train of China’s development, and looks forward to deepening cooperation with the Chinese side in various fields such as economy, trade, tourism, and culture.