PM Narendra Modi Meets Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah to Strengthen India-Brunei Ties
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei – Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah on Wednesday to discuss ways to strengthen the relationship between India and Brunei. The meeting took place at the Istana Nurul Iman, where PM Modi was warmly welcomed by the Sultan and his family.
During the talks, PM Modi emphasized the importance of expanding trade, commercial linkages, and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. He expressed his delight in meeting the Sultan and highlighted the wide-ranging nature of their discussions.
Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), described Brunei as an important partner in India’s ‘Act East’ Policy and its vision for the Indo-Pacific region. He noted the significance of PM Modi’s visit, which marks the first-ever bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei and coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Upon his arrival in Brunei, PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome and was greeted by Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah at the airport. He also inaugurated the new Chancery of the High Commission of India in Bandar Seri Begawan, which features traditional Indian motifs and lush tree plantations.
PM Modi interacted with members of the Indian community in Brunei, appreciating their role in strengthening bilateral ties. Approximately 14,000 Indians currently reside in Brunei. During his visit, PM Modi also visited the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, where he was received by Brunei’s Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin and Minister of Health Dato Haji Mohammad Isham.
After concluding his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore for a two-day visit from September 4-5.
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PM Narendra Modi -: PM Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India, which means he is the head of the government and makes important decisions for the country.
Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah -: Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah is the ruler of Brunei, a small country on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. He is like a king and has been ruling for many years.
India-Brunei relations -: India-Brunei relations refer to the friendship and cooperation between the countries of India and Brunei. They work together on various issues like trade and culture.
trade -: Trade means buying and selling goods and services between countries. For example, India might sell spices to Brunei, and Brunei might sell oil to India.
commercial linkages -: Commercial linkages are connections between businesses in different countries. This helps companies in India and Brunei to work together and grow.
people-to-people exchanges -: People-to-people exchanges are activities that help people from different countries meet and learn from each other, like student exchange programs or cultural festivals.
bilateral visit -: A bilateral visit is a trip where leaders from two countries meet to discuss and improve their relationship. In this case, it means PM Modi visiting Brunei to talk with the Sultan.
diplomatic ties -: Diplomatic ties are the official relationships between two countries. They involve ambassadors and embassies working together to solve problems and improve cooperation.
Chancery of the High Commission of India -: The Chancery of the High Commission of India is the main office of India’s diplomatic mission in Brunei. It’s where Indian officials work to help Indians in Brunei and improve India-Brunei relations.
Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque -: The Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is a famous and beautiful mosque in Brunei. It’s an important place for Muslims to pray and a popular tourist attraction.
Singapore -: Singapore is a small but very developed country in Southeast Asia. It is known for its cleanliness, modern buildings, and as a global financial hub.