| Hakim Hayat |
MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Dato Laila Utama Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak arrived in the Sultanate yesterday evening to attend the 21st Annual Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia which is scheduled to take place today.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam will today receive the Malaysian Prime Minister in audience at the Istana Nurul Iman and hold discussions with him on further collaborations between the two countries in different sectors.
Both leaders are also expected to witness the signing of several agreements to cement cooperation in various sectors including tourism and oil and gas.
Brunei and Malaysia enjoy excellent ties which is especially evident from the large number of Bruneian visitors to the neighbouring country, making Brunei the fifth biggest contributor of visitors to Malaysia annually.
Najib’s visit is expected to open up more opportunities for the public and private sectors of both countries to explore potential ventures. Recorded trade volume between both countries in January to July this year stands at about B$885 million.
A joint statement issued by both governments during the last annual consultation in October 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, said that the leaders of both countries recognised the untapped potential in economic relations and also discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern.
Among other issues discussed during the 20th Annual Consultation were the importance of connectivity between the two countries through the Pan Borneo Highway network, regional and international issues such as on Asean and the South China Sea and also talks to enhance cooperation in the tourism, livestock, palm oil plantation, agriculture and infrastructure sectors.
A Memorandum of Understanding in the field of green technology was also signed during the meeting held in Putrajaya in Kuala Lumpur last year.
Present at the Brunei International Airport to greet the Malaysian Prime Minister last evening was Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education as Minister-in-Attendance and Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II.
Also part of the Malaysian delegation is Malaysia’s Minister of Defence Datuk Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein.
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