PM Modi’s Historic Visit to Brunei and Singapore
Strengthening Ties and Exploring New Cooperation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Brunei Darussalam from September 3-4, marking the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei. This visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei.
During a special briefing, Jaideep Mazumdar, Secretary East, Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted that defence is a key area of cooperation between the two countries. India and Brunei are working towards establishing a Joint Working Group for defence cooperation.
PM Modi’s visit to Brunei is at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. Following this, he will travel to Singapore from September 4-5 at the invitation of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Jaideep Mazumdar recalled Sultan Bolkiah’s previous visits to India and emphasized the warm and friendly relationship between the two nations. The engagements cover various sectors, including defence, trade, investment, energy, space, technology, health, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.
India’s space program has received valuable support from Brunei, including the establishment of a telemetry tracking and command station in Brunei in 2000. This station monitors India’s eastward satellite launches.
Brunei is an important partner in India’s Act East Policy and vision for the Indo-Pacific. The two nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence in 2016, which was renewed in 2021. This MoU covers high-level exchanges, naval and coast guard ship visits, training, joint exercises, and participation in exhibitions.
Brunei has also played a key role as India’s Country Coordinator in ASEAN from 2012 to 2015 and continues to support India’s engagements with ASEAN.
Doubts Revealed
PM Modi -: PM Modi is the Prime Minister of India. His full name is Narendra Modi, and he is the leader of the Indian government.
Brunei Darussalam -: Brunei Darussalam is a small country located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It is known for its wealth due to oil and gas reserves.
bilateral visit -: A bilateral visit means a visit between two countries. In this case, it is a visit between India and Brunei.
diplomatic ties -: Diplomatic ties are the official relationships between two countries. They involve cooperation and communication on various issues.
Jaideep Mazumdar -: Jaideep Mazumdar is an official in the Indian government. He works in the Ministry of External Affairs, which handles India’s foreign relations.
Secretary East -: Secretary East is a position in the Ministry of External Affairs. The person in this role focuses on India’s relations with countries in East Asia.
Ministry of External Affairs -: The Ministry of External Affairs is a part of the Indian government. It manages India’s relationships with other countries.
defence cooperation -: Defence cooperation means working together on military and security matters. It can include joint exercises, training, and sharing technology.
Joint Working Group -: A Joint Working Group is a team made up of members from two countries. They work together on specific issues, like defence or trade.
Singapore -: Singapore is a small island city-state in Southeast Asia. It is known for its strong economy and modern cityscape.
sectors -: Sectors are different areas of activity or industry. In this context, it includes defence, trade, investment, energy, space, technology, health, and culture.