During his first bilateral visit to Brunei, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that relations between the two countries will be elevated to an “Enhanced Partnership.” At a banquet celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah invited PM Modi to highlight the strong historical ties between the two countries.
PM Modi emphasised the importance of increasing economic, scientific, and strategic collaboration. He and the Sultan discussed long-term LNG cooperation and agreed to strengthen partnership in the space sector through satellite development and remote sensing. They also announced the start of direct flights between the two countries to increase connectivity.
PM Modi also discussed future cooperation in agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals, technology, and cybersecurity. Training and capacity building will be the primary emphasis of partnership in the defence sector. The Prime Minister commended Brunei’s “Vision 2035” growth strategy and recognised the Indian community’s substantial contributions.
During his visit, he underlined India’s commitment to ASEAN centrality and the Indo-Pacific agenda, emphasising compliance with international norms such as UNCLOS. PM Modi also inaugurated the Indian High Commission’s new Chancery in Bandar Seri Begawan and paid a visit to the Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque.
