His Majesty being bade farewell by HRH Crown Prince Pg Muda Hj
Al-Muhtadee Billah.
His Majesty being bade farewell by HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah,
HRH Pg Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah and HRH Prince Hj
Sufri Bolkiah.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang
Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri
Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha arrived at Changi International
Airport, Singapore, yesterday morning, for a three-day state
visit.
This is His Majesty's second
state visit to the Republic. This visit comes on the invitation
of President S. R. Nathan. The first state visit was in February
1990. Brunei Darussalam and Singapore which established
diplomatic relations in January 1984, has enjoyed excellent and
cordial relations. Brunei Darussalam and Singapore have formal
cooperation extending to many areas of trade, defence, health,
education, technology and culture.
Present at Changi International
Airport to greet Their Majesties were Deputy Prime Minister of
Singapore Lee Hsien Loong and his wife; Minister of Education
and Deputy Minister of Defence Rear Admiral Teo Chee Hean and
wife, the Minister-in-Attendance and wife; and other senior
officials of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also present at the Airport
were V.P. Hirubalan, the High Commissioner of Singapore to
Brunei Darussalam and the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam
in Singapore, Awang Haji Adnan bin Haji Zainal, and officials of
the High Commission.
His Majesty and Her Majesty
then proceeded in a motorcade for an official welcoming ceremony
held at the Istana compound. At the Istana, His Majesty and Her
Majesty were received by S. R. Nathan, President of the Republic
of Singapore and Mrs S. R. Nathan.
At the Ceremonial Plaza
situated within Istana vicinity, His Majesty was received by a
Guard of Honour mounted by the Singapore Armed Forces. His
Majesty consented to inspect the Guard of Honour after which His
Majesty was then invited to the Reception Room of the Istana for
the signing of the Guest Book.
Following that His Majesty and
Her Majesty were then introduced to members of the Singapore
Cabinet, State dignitaries and members of the diplomatic corps.
President Nathan and Mrs Nathan were also introduced to the
Brunei Darussalam official delegation.
Included in Brunei Darussalam's
delegation were Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna,
Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul
Aziz.
After the introduction
ceremony, Their Majesties proceeded to the East Drawing Room of
the Istana for a meeting with the President and Mrs Nathan.
After the meeting, Their Majesties proceeded to the Hotel Grand
Hyatt where they will be residing.
In the afternoon, both His
Majesty and Her Majesty held separate programmes.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang
Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam held two separate four-eye
meetings. First, with Goh Chok Tong, the Prime Minister of
Singapore.
This was later followed by
another four-eye meeting with Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Both
meetings were held the Hotel Grand Hyatt.
In the meantime, Her Majesty
held a separate ladies' programme by visiting the Kandang Kerbau
Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). Also accompanying Her
Majesty in the visit was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna.
At the KKH, Her Majesty was
presented with a briefing after which Her Majesty then consented
to tour the facilities. Before leaving the KKH, Her Majesty was
presented with a memento.
The KKH which was built in 1924
is the largest and only integrated and specialised women's and
children's hospital in Singapore.
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