Lagatar24 Desk
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a historic state visit to Brunei, marking the first-ever bilateral trip by an Indian prime minister to the Southeast Asian nation. This visit is part of a two-nation tour, with Singapore being the next destination.
On the second day of his visit, PM Modi is set to meet Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at his official residence, the Istana Nurul Iman Palace. Known as the world’s largest palace, Istana Nurul Iman holds a Guinness World Record with its 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, and 44 staircases, all crafted from 38 different types of marble.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the host of this grand event, is the second-longest reigning monarch in the world, following the late Queen Elizabeth II. With an estimated net worth of $30 billion, he was once considered the world’s richest person.
This meeting marks another chapter in the relationship between PM Modi and Sultan Bolkiah, who first met on the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014 and later during the 2017 East Asia Summit in Manila.
“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,” PM Modi stated ahead of his visit.
The timing of this visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei, adding further significance to the event.
At 8:50 am (IST), the Prime Minister will engage in bilateral discussions with the Sultan, focusing on strengthening cooperation in key areas such as defense, trade and investment, energy, space technology, and health. It is anticipated that several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed during these talks.
Following the discussions, PM Modi will be hosted by Sultan Bolkiah for a banquet lunch at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace. He is scheduled to depart for Singapore at 11:20 am, where he will continue his diplomatic tour.
Upon arriving in Singapore, PM Modi will meet with members of the Indian community and later be hosted for dinner by Singapore’s Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong.
Earlier in his visit to Brunei, PM Modi visited the renowned Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, one of the region’s most iconic structures. He also inaugurated the new Chancery of the Indian High Commission in Brunei and interacted with local officials, scholars, and members of the Indian community who had gathered in large numbers.
