Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a historic state visit to Brunei, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to this Southeast Asian country. After Brunei, PM Modi’s next stop will be Singapore.
On the second day of his visit, PM Modi met with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The Sultan is the second longest-reigning monarch in the world after the late Queen Elizabeth II. With an estimated net worth of around 30 billion dollars, he was once considered the richest person in the world.
PM Modi shared his thoughts on the meeting in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “It was a pleasure meeting Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. Our discussions covered a wide range of issues, including ways to further strengthen bilateral relations between our countries. We will enhance our trade ties, commercial connections, and people-to-people exchanges.”
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This historic visit is happening on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei. PM Modi and the Sultan discussed various areas of cooperation, including defense, trade and investment, energy, space technology, and health. Several agreements between the two countries are expected to be signed.
After the discussions, the Sultan will host a lunch for PM Modi at his official residence, the Istana Nurul Iman Palace. This palace is the largest in the world and is listed in the Guinness World Records. It has 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, and 44 staircases made from 38 different types of marble.
After lunch, PM Modi will leave for Singapore, where he will meet with members of the Indian community and attend a dinner hosted by Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
On Tuesday, PM Modi visited the famous Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei, considered one of the most iconic buildings in the region. He also inaugurated the new chancery of the Indian High Commission in Brunei. During his visit, PM Modi interacted with local officials, scholars, and many members of the Indian community gathered there.
