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 Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Lawrence Wong at Istana Nurul Iman.
During the audience ceremony, His Majesty welcomed the Singapore delegation for the 9th Young Leaders’ Programme (YLP), which is the first time for Singaporean deputy prime minister and minister for finance as the head of delegation.
Recollecting the speech made by President Tony Tan Keng Yam during His Majesty’s state visit to Singapore in April 2014, His Majesty expressed firm belief that the YLP serves to strengthen the special relationship between the Sultanate and Singapore that was established during the time of His Majesty’s late father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam and the late Lee Kuan Yew.
In this regard, His Majesty expressed appreciation to Singapore’s Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean for leading the first YLP to Brunei in 2013, adding that his wise leadership under the YLP through the years has contributed to its many achievements.
His Majesty and the Singaporean deputy prime minister and minister for finance also exchanged views on strategic matters of mutual importance between the two countries specifically in the existing cooperation areas such as in the fields of defence and security, civil service and capacity building through people-to-people exchanges. This includes exploring collaboration in areas related to strengthening sustainability such as climate change and food security.
Accompanying Wong at the audience ceremony were Teo Chee Hean; Singapore’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development Indranee Thurai Rajah; Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Manpower Zaqy Mohamad; Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of National Development Tan Kiat How; Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon; and High Commissioner of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam Laurence Bay Siow Hon.
Also present at the audience ceremony were 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; 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 Deputy Minister (Civil Service Governance) at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Paduka Mohd Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos.
Meanwhile in another part of Istana Nurul Iman, Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam received in audience spouse of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of Singapore Loo Tze Lui.
Also present were spouse of the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Datin Hajah Kalshom binti Haji Suhaili; spouse of the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Pengiran Datin Hajah Noor Yashimah binti Pengiran Anak Haji Hashim; and spouse of the Minister of Foreign Affairs II Pengiran Datin Hajah Salwana binti Pengiran Haji Ibrahim.
The 9th YLP, held from December 12-14, is an annual exchange programme between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore to enhance existing bilateral relationship and for future leaders to exchange views on bilateral cooperation, regional and global development.
Hosted alternately between the two countries, the programme was previously held in 2022 in Singapore.
