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 and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam yesterday received in audience President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and spouse Naly Sisoulith and delegation.
Prior to an audience ceremony, Their Majesties welcomed the arrival of the president and spouse at Istana Nurul Iman. Their Majesties and the visitors then received the salute of honour on the special dais, accompanied with the national anthems of both countries and a 21-gun salute. The two leaders then inspected the guard of honour mounted by members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
The president and spouse were then introduced to members of the royal family; Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria; the Speaker of the Legislative Council; Cabinet ministers; members of the Privy Council; deputy ministers; permanent secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and foreign envoys as well as their spouses.
Their Majesties were then introduced to members of the delegation of the president.
Shortly after, the audience ceremony was held at the Cheradi Laila Kenchana. Present at the audience ceremony were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, 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; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.
Also included in the Lao delegation were Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith and spouse.
After the audience ceremony, His Majesty proceeded together with the president to Baitul Mesyuarah for a bilateral meeting.
During the meeting, the monarch and the president welcomed the expansion of cooperation in existing areas, as well as exploration of new opportunities, towards further strengthening the friendship between the peoples of Brunei and Laos.
His Majesty and the president also agreed that food and supply chain security was particularly relevant amidst geopolitical uncertainties and welcomed the signing of two agreements between both nations.
After the bilateral meeting, His Majesty, together with the president witnessed the signing of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the Government of His Majesty and the Government of Laos.
The first was the MoU on Agricultural Cooperation.
Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty was Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, while signing on behalf of the Government of Laos was Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith.
The MoU aims to strengthen, facilitate and develop cooperation and collaboration in the fields of agriculture including agrifood, agro-technology, productivity with standard and quality. Scope and areas of cooperation include sharing and exchange of information; exchange of publications such as laws, regulations and guidelines; capacity building; technical cooperation; and other forms of cooperation relating to agricultural activities.
The second agreement was the MoU on Energy Cooperation.
Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty was 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, while signing on behalf of the Government of Laos was Minister of Energy and Mines Daovong Phonekeo.
The MoU aims to facilitate and enhance meaningful and effective energy cooperation between Brunei and Laos. It enables relevant entities to enter into commercially and financially viable arrangements within cooperation in the potential of export and import of petroleum and petroleum products; the potential of renewable and alternative energy development including the respective technologies; and explore experiences and enhance capacity building between the two countries.
Also present to witness the signing ceremony was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.
