​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 received in audience His Excellency Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of the Republic of Singapore. The Audience Ceremony took place at Istana Nurul Iman, 12th December afternoon.

Accompanying His Excellency were:

- His Excellency Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security;

- Her Excellency Indranee Thurai Rajah, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Finance and Second Minister for National Development;

- His Excellency Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Manpower;

- His Excellency Tan Kiat How, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information and Ministry of National Development;

- His Excellency Doctor Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and Ministry of Manpower;

- And His Excellency Laurence Bay Siow Hon, High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam.

Also present:

- Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Retired Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohammad Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Defence;

- Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy;

- Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs;

- and Dato Seri Paduka Awang Mohammed Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohammed Yunos, Deputy Minister for Civil Service Governance at the Prime Minister's Office.

During the Audience Ceremony, His Majesty welcomed the delegation from Singapore for the 9th instalment of the Young Leaders' Programme, YLP, which will mark His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance's first time to lead the 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 Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore that was established during the time of his late father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji 'Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien and the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

In this regard, His Majesty expressed appreciation to His Excellency Teo Chee Hean for leading the 1st YLP to Brunei in 2013, and added that his wise leadership under the YLP through the years has contributed to its many achievements. His Majesty and His Excellency also exchanged views on strategic matters of mutual importance between both 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.

The 9th YLP, which is held from 12th to 14th December 2023, is an annual exchange programme between Brunei Darussalam and Republic of Singapore to enhance existing bilateral relationship and for future leaders to exchange views on bilateral cooperation, regional and global development. Hosted alternately between both countries, the Programme was previously held in 2022 in the Republic of Singapore.

Source:
RTB NEWS

by RTB NEWS

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