His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam recently received in audience His Excellency Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of the Republic of Singapore and spouse, Mrs. Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam as well as delegation, who are in the country for a three-day State Visit.
Prior to this, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman, proceeded together with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore and spouse from The Empire Brunei to Istana Nurul Iman.
En route to Istana Nurul Iman, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore and spouse were greeted with the waving of both countries’ national flags by approximately 3000 students and teachers from 17 government and private schools.
State welcoming ceremony
The State Visit, which is also an introductory visit of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore and spouse began with the State Welcoming Ceremony, in which His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri welcomed the arrival of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore and spouse on the grounds of Istana Nurul Iman. His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri, together with His Excellency and spouse, then received the Salute of Honour on the Special Dais, accompanied by the national anthems of both countries and a twenty-one gun salute. The two leaders then inspected the Guard of Honour mounted by
members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore and spouse were then introduced to members of the Royal Family; Special Advisor to His Majesty; the Speaker of the Legislative Council; Cabinet Ministers; Members of the Privy Council; Deputy Ministers; the Commissioner of Police, Royal Brunei Police Force; the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; Members of the Legislative Council; Foreign Envoys; and Permanent Secretaries from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; as well as their respective spouses.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri were then introduced to members of the delegation of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore, including His Excellency Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development; His Excellency Dr. Mohamad Maliki bin Osman, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Education and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs; and Her Excellency Gan Siow Huang, Minister of State for Education and Manpower.
Audience Ceremony
Following the State Welcoming Ceremony, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam proceeded together with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore to Cheradi Laila Kenchana for the Audience Ceremony.
Present at the Audience Ceremony were members of the Royal Family. Also present were the delegation from the Republic of Singapore as well as Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd. Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy as Minister-in Attendance, and spouse.
Bilateral Meeting
After the Audience Ceremony, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam held a Bilateral Meeting with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Singapore that took place at Cheradi Ratna Kenchana.
During the Meeting, His Majesty and His Excellency reaffirmed the longstanding special relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore, and noted the significance of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year. Both leaders also looked forward to a series of commemorative events to celebrate this milestone and agreed to explore efforts to continue deepening bilateral cooperation by highlighting three main areas namely people-to-people exchanges, renewable energy and food security.
This marks His Excellency’s first overseas State Visit as the President of the Republic of Singapore since his appointment on 14th September 2023. In commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore this year, this visit also serves to strengthen the special relationship that has long been established since the time of Al-Marhum Begawan Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien and the late Lee Kuan Yew, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
