Ministry of Foreign Affairs Press Statement: State Visit of President Halimah Yacob to Negara Brunei Darussalam, 11 to 14 May 2018

President Halimah Yacob, accompanied by Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, is on her first State Visit to Negara Brunei Darussalam. They were accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office of Negara Brunei Darussalam and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah to the Welcome Ceremony.

President Halimah and Mr Mohamed had an audience followed by a bilateral meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha at Istana Nurul Iman.

President Halimah and the Sultan reaffirmed the special and longstanding relationship between Singapore and Brunei. Both leaders noted that Singapore and Brunei cooperate closely across many sectors, including defence, finance, business, and education. President Halimah thanked the Sultan and the people of Brunei for allowing the Singapore Armed Forces to train in Brunei. Both leaders reaffirmed the Currency Interchangeability Agreement’s importance in facilitating trade, investment, and tourism between Brunei and Singapore. Both leaders welcomed efforts to continue building on this extensive cooperation.

President Halimah and the Sultan agreed that relations between Brunei and Singapore were rooted in strong people-to-people ties, and agreed to maintain regular, high-level exchanges. President Halimah said that Singapore looked forward to hosting the 6^th Young Leaders’ Programme later this year, during which Crown Prince Billah would lead a delegation of young Ministers to Singapore.

President Halimah and the Sultan discussed regional and global developments. President Halimah thanked the Sultan for Brunei’s full support for Singapore’s 2018 ASEAN Chairmanship. President Halimah and the Sultan noted that Bandar Seri Begawan has been nominated a pilot Smart City in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network, and welcomed further cooperation on this front.

  After their discussions, President Halimah and the Sultan witnessed the signing of two agreements at the Istana Nurul Iman. The Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office, Commercial Affairs Department, Singapore Police Force and the Financial Intelligence Unit, Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam signed a Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Cooperation in the Exchange of Information related to Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing to prevent the flow of funds to criminal activities. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam signed a Financial Technology (FinTech) Cooperation Agreement to collaborate on developing robust, innovative FinTech ecosystems to support their respective domestic financial markets. President Halimah and the Sultan also welcomed the conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding on Info-Communications Media Cooperation between the Ministry of Communications and Information, Singapore and the Ministry of Communications, Brunei, which will be signed at the inaugural Straits Digital Exchange from 5 to 6 June 2018, to share expertise on developing the info-communications media industries of both countries. These agreements reflect the growing cooperation between Singapore and Brunei.

In the afternoon, President Halimah visited the Defence Academy Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF). President Halimah received a briefing on the close collaboration between RBAF and the Singapore Armed Forces, and interacted with course participants from the RBAF’s Command and Staff College. President Halimah reaffirmed the strong defence ties between Singapore and Brunei.

President Halimah and Mr Mohamed will be hosted to a State Banquet this evening in the Istana Nurul Iman by the Sultan and Her Majesty the Raja Isteri.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

12 MAY 2018