His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman left the Sultanate for Tokyo, Japan for an official visit from March 7-11.
Accompanying Their Royal Highnesses were Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda Muhammad Aiman and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Faathimah Az-Zahraa’ Raihaanul Bolkiah.
Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar recited Doa Selamat prior to departure.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik was present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar to bid farewell.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah were greeted on arrival at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Akishino and Her Imperial Highness Crown Princess Akishino. Their Royal Highnesses and Their Imperial Highnesses then proceeded to a special dias where national anthems of Brunei Darussalam and Japan were played. Their Royal Highnesses were introduced to members of the Japanese delegation, and Their Imperial Highnesses introduced to the Sultanate’s delegation.
Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Toru Maeda, Brunei Darussalam Ambassador to Japan Haji Shahbudin bin Haji Musa were also present to welcome Their Royal Highnesses.
Their Royal Highnesses are expected to have an audience and attend a luncheon hosted by His Majesty Emperor Naruhito, Emperor of Japan and Her Majesty Empress Masako, Empress of Japan. His Royal Highness is also expected to attend a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as well as witness an exchange of notes ceremony on visa waiver arrangement.
The visit is in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brunei and Japan. It also provides the impetus to strengthen ties between the two sides, especially following the elevation of relations to a strategic partnership during the official visit of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to Japan in December last year.
