Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean with a delegation of younger Singapore leaders are in Negara Brunei Darussalam from 3 to 5 November 2017 for the 5th Young Leaders’ Programme (YLP). This is the second day of their three-day programme in Brunei, as part of an annual exchange to deepen ties between younger leaders from both countries.
Earlier today, DPM Teo and the delegation had an audience with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam at Istana Nurul Iman. DPM Teo congratulated His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah on the historic commemoration of His Majesty’s Golden Jubilee last month, which Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong attended. They also discussed regional issues and reaffirmed their commitment to the special relationship between Singapore and Brunei. Mrs Teo had a separate audience with Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha.
DPM Teo, Mrs Teo and the delegation also called on His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office of Negara Brunei Darussalam, and Her Royal Highness Princess Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah. The royal couple hosted the delegation to lunch, over-looking the newly-inaugurated iconic Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Bridge over the Brunei River. Crown Prince Billah discussed recent developments in Brunei with DPM Teo, including the successful conclusion of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening relations among the younger generation of leaders of both countries.
In addition, DPM Teo and Crown Prince Billah witnessed the launch of the Brunei leg of the “Abode of Peace and the Lion City: A Brunei-Singapore Exhibition” at the Waterfront Art Gallery. Among the guests at the event were Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Masna, Bruneian Ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, and Singaporean and Bruneian participants of the 4th Singapore-Brunei Youth Leadership Exchange Programme (SBYLEP). The exhibition showcases historical and contemporary perspectives on Singapore-Brunei relations. This leg of the exhibition will be open till end-April 2018.
DPM Teo and the Singapore delegation also participated in a High-Level Tea Reception with younger Bruneian Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hosted by Bruneian Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Awang Lim Jock Seng.
Earlier, on 2 November 2017, DPM Teo met Pehin Lim Jock Seng for breakfast, and Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (Security and Media) Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan over tea. They exchanged views on regional security developments and affirmed the importance of further enhancing bilateral cooperation on these issues. DPM Teo also made house visits to renew his friendship with former Speaker of the Legislative Council Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, former Deputy Minister of Defence Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Ibnu Ba’asith, and former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports and Chairman of Brunei’s Economic Development Board Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad.
This evening, DPM Teo and the delegation will be hosted to dinner by Bruneian Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance II Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Haji Awang Abdul Rahman. DPM Teo and the delegation will continue on the YLP visit tomorrow morning, before returning to Singapore in the afternoon.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
4 NOVEMBER 2017
