S’pore fully supports Brunei’s leadership of Asean in 2013

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has expressed Singapore’s full support for Brunei Darussalam’s leadership of Asean in 2013.

Lee expressed this during a four-eye meeting and delegation audience with the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman in the oil-rich sultanate yesterday.

Brunei will be taking over the Asean chairmanship from Cambodia next year.

During the meeting, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee and the Brunei Sultan discussed regional developments, including Brunei’s preparations for its Asean chairmanship.

Lee is on a three-day visit to Brunei beginning yesterday.

He was received at the airport by Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince of Brunei, who accompanied Lee for the official welcome ceremony.

-The leaders expressed satisfaction over the strong ties between Brunei and Singapore. Lee noted that their defence relationship was one of the hallmarks of Singapore-Brunei ties.

He said both defence establishments had built up excellent links through joint exercises, training and other cooperative arrangements.

Lee also expressed his appreciation to the Sultan and the people of Brunei for allowing SAF troops to train in Brunei.

He and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah noted that it was the 45th Anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement (CIA) and reaffirmed its importance in facilitating trade, investment and tourism between the two countries.

Both leaders welcomed the proposal for the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) to hold bilateral meetings to discuss monetary and financial issues and areas of mutual interest.

They noted that their respective postal authorities would jointly launch a commemorative stamp later this year as part of the 45th anniversary of the CIA.

The leaders also agreed on the importance of maintaining regular exchanges. In this context, Lee invited the Brunei Sultan to visit Singapore.

Lee also met Brunei’s deputy ministers and senior officials in charge of the economy. — Bernama

Sourced: theborneopost