Lagatar24 Desk
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brunei on a historic two-day visit, marking the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the Southeast Asian nation. Invited by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, PM Modi’s visit comes as the two countries celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations.
Ahead of his arrival, PM Modi expressed his enthusiasm for the visit, stating, “As we celebrate 40 years of our diplomatic relations, I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to advance our historical relationship to new heights.”
During his stay, PM Modi will engage in bilateral discussions aimed at exploring new areas of cooperation in various sectors, including defence, trade and investment, energy, space technology, health, capacity building, and cultural exchanges. The visit underscores India’s commitment to strengthening ties with Brunei as part of its ‘Act East’ policy and broader Indo-Pacific vision.
Last month, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Brunei’s Foreign Minister Erywan Pehin Yusof during ASEAN meetings in Vientiane. Together, they launched a logo commemorating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei.
PM Modi and Sultan Bolkiah first met on the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014, and again during the 2017 East Asia Summit in Manila. In January 2018, Sultan Bolkiah visited India with other ASEAN leaders for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and India’s Republic Day celebrations.
Sultan Bolkiah, who became the 29th Sultan of Brunei in 1968, has visited India twice on state visits, in 1992 and 2008. His government has been supportive of India’s ‘Look East’ and ‘Act East’ policies, which aim to deepen cooperation with ASEAN nations.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted Brunei’s role in supporting India’s engagement with ASEAN, noting, “Brunei is an important partner for India’s Act East Policy and our vision for the Indo-Pacific.”
Indian naval and coast guard ships regularly visit Brunei, and Indian defence companies have participated in Brunei’s Defence Industry Exposition. Indian expatriates, including a significant number of semi-skilled workers and professionals like doctors and teachers, contribute to Brunei’s economy.
Following his visit to Brunei, PM Modi will travel to Singapore to further discuss cooperation in areas such as digitalization, skill development, sustainability, and advanced manufacturing. In Singapore, he will meet with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and other key leaders to deepen the strategic partnership between India and Singapore.
Reflecting on his upcoming meetings, PM Modi said, “I look forward to my discussions to deepen our Strategic Partnership with Singapore, particularly in new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing, digitalization, and sustainable development.”
The visit aims to strengthen India’s partnerships in the larger ASEAN region, reinforcing its strategic and economic ties with Southeast Asian nations.
