PM Wong meets Brunei sultan, reaffirms commitment to strengthening ties
PRIME Minister Lawrence Wong concluded his introductory visit to Brunei on Tuesday (Jun 11), after having had an audience with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife Raja Isteri Saleha at the palace in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. They were also hosted to an official lunch.
PM Wong, who is also Singapore’s minister for finance, expressed his appreciation to the sultan for his steadfast support in the 40 years the two sides have had diplomatic relations, and reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to strengthening the special ties between Singapore and Brunei. PM Wong said that the “special relationship” between Singapore and Brunei is defined by a shared strategic outlook as well as the close personal ties and high level of trust between the leaders.
He also expressed his thanks to the sultan for his long-standing support for the Singapore Armed Forces’ training in Brunei, and for the deep and multifaceted cooperation between both armed forces.
He noted the significance of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement, which has bolstered bilateral financial and economic cooperation between the two countries since June 1967.
Apart from the two key pillars of finance and defence, PM Wong said both countries are “firmly committed” to expanding bilateral cooperation in new areas. “This includes sustainability issues like carbon markets, carbon capture and storage, and renewable energy, as well as urban planning, digital economy, food security, education, and public service capacity development,” he said.
Following his swearing in as Singapore’s prime minister on May 15, the Singapore leader is kicking off the customary series of introductory visits to South-east Asian capitals. Malaysia is next on his itinerary.
When former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong assumed office in 2004, he also started his introductory visits to the region with Brunei and Malaysia.
In Malaysia on Wednesday, PM Wong will meet and be hosted to lunch by his counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof will make separate calls on PM Wong.
PM Wong is being accompanied by his wife, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister of State for Communications and Information and Minister of State for Health Rahayu Mahzam, on his visit to Malaysia.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
