PM Modi Begins Historic 2-Day Visit to Brunei, Eyes New Areas of Cooperation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, marking the start of a two-day historic visit—the first ever bilateral trip by an Indian PM to the Southeast Asian nation. The visit is at the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and aims to deepen India-Brunei relations.
Upon arrival, PM Modi was given a ceremonial welcome at the Bandar Seri Begawan Airport. In his departure statement, he expressed enthusiasm for advancing the historical relationship between India and Brunei to new heights.
During his visit, PM Modi will engage in bilateral discussions covering a wide range of areas including defence, trade and investment, energy, space technology, health, capacity building, and cultural exchanges. The discussions will focus on exploring new avenues for cooperation.
In preparation for the visit, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Brunei’s Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof in Vientiane last month. They jointly launched a logo celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
PM Modi and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah first met during the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw in 2014 and again at the 2017 East Asia Summit in Manila. The Sultan had visited India in January 2018 for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit.
Previously, in 2013, then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh participated in the 11th ASEAN-India Summit and the 8th East Asia Summit held in Brunei. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, who has been in power since 1968, visited India twice—in 1992 and 2008.
The Ministry of External Affairs notes that Brunei has supported India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policies, which aim to strengthen ties with ASEAN. This visit highlights the significance of Brunei’s role in India’s Indo-Pacific strategy and Act East Policy.
Following his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore to discuss enhanced cooperation in digital technology, skill development, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. He will meet with Singapore’s President and key leaders to deepen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Recent interactions between Indian and Singaporean officials, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, have led to progress in various cooperation areas. Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong expressed optimism about continued collaboration and new initiatives.
Overall, PM Modi’s visit to Brunei and subsequent trip to Singapore are set to bolster India’s relationships with both countries and enhance strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.
