Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Singapore on Wednesday for a two-day visit, following an official trip to Brunei. The visit is at the invitation of Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. Upon landing at Changi Airport, PM Modi was greeted by Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Shilpak Ambule, Singapore’s High Commissioner to India Simon Wong, and other officials.
During his stay, PM Modi and Prime Minister Wong will review the progress of the India-Singapore Strategic Partnership and discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). PM Modi is also scheduled to meet Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, engage with the Singaporean leadership, and interact with business leaders from the island nation.
Before arriving in Singapore, PM Modi was on an official visit to Brunei. Earlier in the day, he held extensive discussions with Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan. The talks focused on enhancing bilateral ties and exploring areas of mutual interest.
In a post on X, PM Modi shared his enthusiasm about the meeting, stating, “Delighted to meet His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. Our talks were wide-ranging and included ways to further cement bilateral ties between our nations. We are going to further expand trade ties, commercial linkages, and people-to-people exchanges.”
On Tuesday, PM Modi inaugurated the new Chancery of the High Commission of India in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital city. The chancery complex reflects a strong sense of Indian identity, blending traditional motifs with lush greenery.
During his visit, PM Modi also visited the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan, where he was received by Brunei’s Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin and Minister of Health Dato Haji Mohammad Isham, according to the MEA.
Commenting on the visit, MEA Secretary East Jaideep Mazumdar highlighted the discussions held between PM Modi and Sultan Bolkiah, which covered a broad range of topics including defense, trade and investment, space, energy, health, culture, and people-to-people relations. He noted the upcoming direct flights from Bandar Seri Begawan to Chennai, set to begin later this year, as a positive step in bilateral cooperation.
Mazumdar also underscored the significance of space cooperation between India and Brunei, with India’s telemetry tracking and command station located in Brunei. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed to further this collaboration.
Regional and international matters, including ASEAN-related issues central to India’s Act-East policy and its vision for the Indo-Pacific, were also discussed. A joint statement was issued, elevating the bilateral relationship to an enhanced partnership. Sultan Bolkiah hosted a lunch for PM Modi, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
(ANI)
