Brunei Sultan to make state visit to Singapore from July 5-6

The two-day visit will see Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife receiving a ceremonial welcome at the Istana. PHOTO: REUTERS

SINGAPORE - Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah will be making a State Visit to Singapore on Wednesday (July 5).

The two-day visit - at the invitation of President Tony Tan Keng Yam - will see the Sultan and his wife, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, receiving a ceremonial welcome at the Istana.

The Sultan will pay a courtesy call to Dr Tan at the Istana, while the Sultan's wife will be hosted to tea and a visit to the Istana Heritage Gallery by Mrs Mary Tan. The President and Mrs Tan will host a State Banquet in honour of the Sultan and his wife.

The Sultan will also meet with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong - who, together his wife, Madam Ho Ching - will host them to lunch.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean will also host a separate lunch for the Sultan.

The visit is in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement between Singapore and Brunei.

To mark the occasion, PM Lee and the Sultan will launch commemorative S$50 and B$50 notes.

They will also jointly open a co-curated exhibition titled "Abode of Peace & the Lion City: A Brunei-Singapore Exhibition" at the Singapore Philatelic Museum on Coleman Street.

The Sultan will also visit the Singapore Armed Forces' Airborne Trooper Training Facility in Pasir Ris Camp.

This is the Sultan's fourth State Visit to Singapore, having last made a State Visit in April 2014.

"These visits reaffirm the excellent bilateral ties and special relationship between Singapore and Brunei," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Tuesday (July 4), adding that the two nations cooperate closely in many areas such as finance, defence and education.

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