Bahyiah Bakir
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 yesterday left for Phnom Penh, Cambodia to attend the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits that will be held from November 10-13 and to hold a state visit to Cambodia on November 14.
Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
Prior to leaving Istana Nurul Iman, a Doa Selamat was recited by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.
Present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar in Rimba to bid farewell to His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also present to bid farewell to His Majesty were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria; Special Advisor to His Majesty; the Speaker of the Legislative Council; Members of the Privy Council; Cabinet Ministers; deputy ministers; the Commissioner of Police, Royal Brunei Police Force and Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
Upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, His Majesty was welcomed by Senior Minister in charge of Special Mission Okhna Datuk Dr Othsman Hassan.
Also present to greet His Majesty on arrival were Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof and Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Cambodia Pengiran Kasmirhan bin Pengiran Haji Tahir.
Cambodia, as ASEAN Chair for the year 2022, will host the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, where ASEAN leaders and dialogue partners will gather to advance discussions on agendas and priorities under the three ASEAN Community pillars, namely the ASEAN Political-Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community as well as strengthen ASEAN’s cooperation with its dialogue partners.
Meanwhile, His Majesty’s second state visit to Cambodia reaffirms Brunei Darussalam’s close bilateral relations with Cambodia, and further emphasises the need to continue to expand cooperation for greater benefits of the peoples of both countries, including cooperation in the fields of trade, education, youth, sports and culture. This year, Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations that were established on June 9, 1992.
