Brunei Visit Begun By President Kim

BRUNEI - President Kim Dae-jung of South Korea met Monday with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in Brunei and discussed economic cooperation between their two nations and Korean affairs.

Mr. Kim arrived for a state visit aimed at attracting investment to Korea from Brunei, which has a gross domestic product per capita of $15,000.

The oilrich island state has been investing mainly in European countries.

But with the two countries scheduled to sign an investment-guarantee agreement, Brunei is expected to expand its investment in South Korea, a presidential spokesman, Park Joon-young, said.

The sultan pledged assistance to Mr. Kim in helping the South Korean firm of Hyundai Construction Co. to collect $38 million in outstanding debt in Brunei. Mr. Kim said that Korea will import more oil and natural gas from Brunei.

Following the two-day state visit, Mr. Kim will be attending a summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum slated here Wednesday and Thursday.

At the meeting, he is expected to focus on consolidating support for achieving peace between the two Koreas.