President Tony Tan Keng Yam, accompanied by Mrs Mary Tan, began his State Visit to Negara Brunei Darussalam today. They were received at the airport by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah Salleh, who accompanied President and Mrs Tan to the official Welcome Ceremony.
President and Mrs Mary Tan had a joint audience with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha at Istana Nurul Iman.
The Sultan and President Tan reaffirmed the strong and longstanding ties between Brunei and Singapore. Both leaders noted the close defence cooperation between both countries, and President Tan expressed his appreciation to His Majesty and the people of Brunei for allowing the Singapore Armed Forces to train in Brunei. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement in facilitating trade, investment and tourism between Brunei and Singapore. Both leaders also welcomed efforts to strengthen our close cooperation in other areas such as education, healthcare and promote stronger people-to-people ties, especially amongst youths, between Brunei and Singapore.
President Tan and the Sultan agreed on the importance of maintaining regular high level exchanges. The Sultan accepted President Tan’s invitation for His Majesty to make a State Visit to Singapore. President Tan also expressed satisfaction that DPM Teo Chee Hean would be leading a delegation of young Singapore Ministers to meet Crown Prince Billah and younger Bruneian leaders later this year.
President Tan and the Sultan discussed regional and global developments. President Tan expressed Singapore’s full support for Brunei’s Chairmanship of ASEAN and welcomed Brunei’s leadership towards achieving an ASEAN Community by 2015.
Separately, Minister for Health Mr Gan Kim Yong and Brunei Minister of Health Pehin Adanan Yusof renewed the Singapore-Brunei Memorandum of Understanding on Health Cooperation today at a signing ceremony in the Empire Hotel and Country Club. The renewal of this MoU reflects both countries’ commitment to maintain and expand existing areas of collaboration that have been mutually beneficial. Minister Gan is in Brunei as part of President Tan’s delegation.
President and Mrs Tan will be hosted to a banquet this evening in the Istana Nurul Iman by His Majesty and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri.
. . . . .
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
28 MAY 2012