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 received in audience Commander of Armed Forces in French Polynesia, Commander of the Pacific Experimental Center, Commander of the Pacific Ocean and French Polynesian Maritime Zones and Commander of the French Polynesia Defense Base Rear Admiral Geoffroy d’Andigne during a ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman.
Accompanying Rear Admiral Geoffroy d’Andigne were Ambassador of France to Brunei Darussalam Bernard Regnauld-Fabre and France Defence Attaché in Singapore Captain (Navy) Riaz Akhoune who is also accredited to Brunei Darussalam. Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan were also present.
Rear Admiral Geoffroy d’Andigne and his delegation are in the Sultanate for a five-day official visit that includes today.
The visit further strengthened the defence and military relations between Brunei and France, in which bilateral defence and military cooperation has been enhanced since a signing of the memorandum of understanding concerning cooperation in defence matters and defence equipment on February 25, 1999.
