Singapore, Brunei to mark 40 years of bilateral ties with visits, joint activities
Both sides are looking to expand their cooperation into new areas, including emerging ones such as climate change, renewable energy, and digital connectivity.
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at a state banquet at the Istana Nurul Iman on Jan 25, 2024. (Photo: CNA/Nazirah Jamzuri)
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BRUNEI: Singapore and Brunei will mark 40 years of diplomatic ties this year with a series of visits and joint activities, said Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Thursday (Jan 25).
Mr Tharman added that exchanges between both sides promote lasting bonds of friendship and mutual understanding.
He was speaking during a state banquet at the Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
RAISING STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP TO GREATER HEIGHTS
“As small nation-states whose core interests are best served by an open and rules-based international economic order, we seek a high-level of ambition in our cooperation,” said Mr Tharman, adding that the strong relations between Singapore and Brunei is characterised by symbiosis and a sense of kinship.
He identified renewable energy and digital finance as emerging areas in which the two countries can work together closely.
“We are now raising our strategic partnership to an even higher level. But underpinning it all, must be the trust between us, and particularly between future generations of Bruneians and Singaporeans,” added Mr Tharman.
Sultan Bolkiah said in his address that it is important for Singapore and Brunei to “continue working together to safeguard our common aspirations and interests”, as the two countries reflect on shared achievements and look towards the future.
“I am pleased with our mutual commitment to further deepen trade linkages in food, medical products, and energy,” he added.
“In addition, we have also continued to nurture more robust people-to-people exchange programmes that will further strengthen the affinity shared between our people.”
Mr Tharman is on a three-day state visit to Brunei until Friday.
He is accompanied by Mrs Jane Ittogi Shanmugaratnam, and a delegation that includes National Development Minister Desmond Lee, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Education Maliki Osman and Minister of State for Education and Manpower Gan Siow Huang.
LONG-STANDING SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP
On Thursday morning, Mr Tharman and his wife received a ceremonial welcome at the Istana Nurul Iman, where they had a royal audience with the Sultan and his wife, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha.
This was followed by a bilateral meeting between Mr Tharman, the Sultan and their delegations.
Mr Tharman and the Sultan encouraged both sides to accelerate efforts to explore innovative and mutually beneficial projects, such as in the green economy.
In the afternoon, the President had lunch with young Bruneian leaders from various sectors.
He also travelled to Temburong district to visit Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officer cadets training there, and observed how they built shelters and started fires as part of their jungle confidence and survival training.
Mr Tharman commended them for their professionalism and toughness in the demanding jungle environment. Training in a terrain different from Singapore's is invaluable, as it helps them grow into capable and resilient leaders, he told cadets.
“We are deeply grateful to Brunei for allowing successive batches of SAF soldiers to train here,” said Mr Tharman in his state banquet address.
“Not only has our defence cooperation enhanced the professionalism of our servicemen, it has also strengthened our militaries' interoperability.”
Singapore and Brunei share a close and long-standing defence relationship, said the Ministry of Defence in a statement on Thursday.
“In addition to SAF troops training in Brunei, the SAF and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces also interact through frequent bilateral exercises, professional exchanges, visits and cross-attendance of courses,” it added.
“These exchanges have enhanced the professionalism and strengthened the ties between the two armed forces.”
On Wednesday, Mr Tharman had met with about 400 Singaporeans living in Brunei.
He said their experience living overseas gives them a new way of looking at Singapore and the world, and “we need that diversity of perspectives in Singapore”.
