Brunei Hosts Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong for his first International Visit
Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong made his first overseas trip as Prime Minister to Brunei on June 11th. The visit was the start of a series of visits to Southeast Asian neighbors. Prime Minister Wong met with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and reaffirmed the special relationship between Singapore and Brunei, referring to the country as Singapore's "special and most trusted partner." This declaration comes as the two countries celebrate forty years of diplomatic ties.
The two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in areas like food security, energy, civil service exchange, urban planning, and the digital economy. In particular, the Sultan identified defense and finance as key pillars of the partnership. Prime Minister Wong also expressed gratitude for Brunei's support for joint training programs with the Singapore Armed Forces in Brunei. The visit and the PM's subsequent visits to other ASEAN countries reflect Singapore's commitment and enmeshment in the region's security and economy and highlights Brunei’s regional as well as global significance.