Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brunei on Tuesday for a bilateral visit, expressing his anticipation of strengthening the relationship between the two nations, particularly in enhancing commercial and cultural ties. PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome and extended his gratitude to Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah for personally welcoming him at the airport.
Landed in Brunei Darussalam. Looking forward to strong ties between our nations, especially in boosting commercial and cultural linkages. I thank Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah for welcoming me at the airport. pic.twitter.com/azcZywzjCh
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2024
PM Modi was warmly received by the members of Indian diaspora. He had an endearing interaction with a girl child who showed him a painting. The painting had the Tricolour and the child with the Prime Minister.
A very special welcome in Brunei Darussalam! Grateful for the affection. pic.twitter.com/ndDT41mMga
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 3, 2024
PM Modi also inaugurated the new Chancery premises of the High Commission of India in Brunei.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the new Chancery of the High Commission of India, in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. pic.twitter.com/Xy6QSEOADG
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) September 3, 2024
Earlier, PM Modi has embarked on a two day bilateral visit to Brunei and Singapore from September 3 onwards. With this visit, PM Modi will become the first-ever Indian PM to visit Brunei. This is being seen as a significant step in bolstering ties between the two nations.
#WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a three-day official visit to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.
At the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, PM Modi is visiting Brunei Darussalam. PM Modi’s Brunei visit will be the first-ever bilateral visit by an… pic.twitter.com/gH3inAfiOa
— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2024
PM Narendra Modi is visiting Brunei on September 3-4 at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and his visit is expected to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two nations in all existing sectors.
PM Modi’s visit coincides with 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Brunei.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at a hotel in Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan where he is staying during his visit. He was greeted by the members of the Indian diaspora.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at a hotel in Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri Begawan where he is staying during his visit. Members of the Indian diaspora welcome him here.
(Video: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/Iyb3LPbNhX
— ANI (@ANI) September 3, 2024
What’s on the agenda?
According to Ministry of External Affairs’ Secretary (east) Jaideep Mazumdar, PM Modi will hold bilateral discussions on all aspects of relations and cooperation with Brunei.
“As you know, we share a very warm and friendly relationship with Brunei and our engagements cover multiple areas such as defence, trade and investment, energy, space, technology, health, capacity, building, culture and vibrant people-to-people exchanges”, said Mazumdar.
“The Indian diaspora in Brunei is about 14,000 and they comprise a substantial number of doctors and teachers in Brunei who have earned goodwill and respect for their contributions to Brunei economy and society,” he added.
In July, Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Brunei counterpart in Laos on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings.
PM Modi’s Singapore Visit
After Brunei, PM Modi will visit Singapore on September 4-5 at the invitation of Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. PM Modi will be visiting Singapore after nearly six years.
What’s on the agenda?
The Singapore visit is expected to include a series of high-level meetings and engagements aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
During his visit to Singapore, PM Modi is scheduled to meet with the newly elected President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam. The Prime Minister will also hold talks with Singaporean leadership and interact with key business leaders, focusing on enhancing economic cooperation and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.
The announcement follows the recent India-Singapore Ministerial Dialogue (ISMD) held on August 26, where key Indian ministers, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, engaged with their Singaporean counterparts.
The dialogue explored cooperation in various sectors, including digital innovation, skill development, sustainability, healthcare, connectivity, and advanced manufacturing.
(With inputs from agencies)
