Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes arms with Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah throughout an official lunch hosted by the latter in Brunei on September 4, 2024. | Photograph Credit score: PTI
India and Brunei on Wednesday (September 4, 2024) pledged to respect freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with worldwide legislation, in keeping with a joint assertion right here after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on a variety of points and mentioned the opportunity of additional increasing commerce ties, enterprise hyperlinks and people-to-people exchanges.
Prime Minister Modi additionally expressed his deep gratitude to Brunei Darussalam for persevering with to host the Telemetry and Telecommand Monitoring (TTC) Station of the Indian Area Analysis Organisation (ISRO), which has helped India’s continued efforts within the area sector, the assertion stated.
Prime Minister Modi and the Sultan of Brunei additionally mentioned enhancing defence and maritime cooperation by means of joint workout routines, he added.
“Each leaders reiterated their dedication to sustaining and selling peace, stability, maritime safety and security, in addition to to respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unhindered lawful commerce, in accordance with worldwide legislation, specifically the 1982 United Nations Conference on the Regulation of the Sea (UNCLOS),” it stated.
Earlier than leaving for Singapore, Modi had described his go to to Brunei as “productive” and stated it marked the start of a “new period of even stronger India-Brunei ties” that might contribute to a greater planet.
India and Brunei have upgraded their bilateral ties to “Enhanced Partnership”.
Mr Modi, the primary Indian Prime Minister to journey to Brunei on a bilateral go to, was obtained by Sultan Bolkiah and his shut members of the family on the Istana Nurul Iman, which is the official residence of the Sultan and the seat of the Brunei authorities.
Mr Modi’s historic go to is a crucial milestone within the 40-year-old diplomatic relationship between the 2 nations, which get pleasure from a pleasant relationship marked by mutual respect and understanding on bilateral and multilateral points, the officers stated.
“Constructing stronger relations between India and Brunei. Prime Minister @narendramodi was warmly welcomed on the Istana Nurul Iman by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei and his instant household.
“Brunei is a crucial accomplice in India’s Act East coverage and its Indo-Pacific imaginative and prescient,” the Ministry of Exterior Affairs (MEA) posted on X together with the images.
The 2 nations are linked by historical past, tradition and custom courting again a millennium, the Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated forward of Modi’s go to to the Southeast Asian nation.
The Indian delegation led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (fourth from left) and Brunei officers led by Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (third from proper) meet at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan on September 4, 2024. | Photograph credit score: AFP
The Prime Minister stated he seemed ahead to nearer ties with Brunei as he arrived right here on the primary leg of his two-nation tour geared toward strengthening cooperation in sectors equivalent to defence, commerce and funding, vitality in addition to people-to-people exchanges.
As a particular gesture, Mr. Modi was obtained by Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah on the airport. He visited the long-lasting Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and in addition inaugurated the brand new premises of the Chancery of the Excessive Fee of India. At each locations, he interacted with the Indian diaspora.
