A vendor sells handicrafts at market in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei

A vendor makes handicrafts at a market in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, April 23, 2013. Negara Brunei Darussalam, officially the Nation of Brunei, is a tiny Southeast Asian country you can barely spot on a map. Regardless its tiny territory and small population, Brunei is often trotted out as an ideal Islamic state — stable and prosperous, and with an educated and moderate Muslim society generally enjoying a high quality of life. The state is most famous for its bounty of oil and gas, which has fueled its economy for the past 75 years and beyond. Striking growth rates, averaging 56 percent during 1999-2008, transformed it into a newly developed country and ensured all Bruneians a secure life.

Photo taken on April 23, 2013 shows a vendor at a market in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, April 23, 2013.

A vendor sells agricultural products at a market in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, April 23, 2013.

A skiff sails on a river in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, April 23, 2013. <Xinhua/Li Peng>