MFA Press Statement : 15th Singapore - Brunei Exchange Visit, 27 to 28 October 2013

Singapore is hosting the 15th Singapore-Brunei Exchange Visit (SBEV) from 27 to 28 October 2013. The visit is the latest in a series of exchanges hosted alternately by Singapore and Brunei since 1990. The SBEV promotes interactions between political leaders and senior civil servants of both countries to enhance mutual understanding and rapport through informal interactions.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah is leading the high-level delegation from Brunei. The delegation includes Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Badaruddin Othman, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Hazair Abdullah, Minister of Development Pehin Suyoi Osman, Deputy Defence Minister Dato Mustappa Sirat, as well as senior officials from their respective ministries. During the visit, the Brunei Ministers will meet their respective counterparts to review and strengthen bilateral collaboration across a wide range of areas.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam hosted His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah and members of the Bruneian delegation to a welcome dinner this evening. Several Singapore Ministers and senior officials also attended the dinner. Members of the Brunei and Singapore delegations also participated in a friendly sporting event earlier today.

During the dinner, His Royal Highness and Minister Shanmugam welcomed the recent efforts to strengthen our people-to-people ties and the acknowledged growing breadth of our bilateral relationship. Both leaders agreed on the need to build on our close historical and personal links at all levels, and reaffirmed the importance of SBEV as a platform to maintain the special relationship between Singapore and Brunei. Minister Shanmugam congratulated His Royal Highness on the successful conclusion of the 23rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits under Brunei’s Chairmanship. Minister Shanmugam noted that Brunei’s Chairmanship of ASEAN had brought us closer to the goal of an ASEAN Community by 2015 Community, and further bolstered ASEAN unity and credibility.

His Royal Highness called on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong yesterday. PM Lee conveyed his warm wishes to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah and said that he looked forward to His Majesty’s State Visit to Singapore next year. PM Lee and His Royal Highness reaffirmed the close ties between Singapore and Brunei.

. . . . .

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
27 OCTOBER 2013