LEADERS of Asean member countries and Australia are expected to discuss a slew of key economic and security issues during the Asean-Australia Special Summit 2018 which will be held from today until March 18, in Sydney, Australia.
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 yesterday arrived in Sydney to attend the summit.
Present at the Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport to welcome His Majesty were Mark Fraser, Official Secretary to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia as representative of the Governor-General; James McGrath, Assistant Minister for Immigration as representative of the Prime Minister of Australia; Matt Kean, Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation as representative of the Premier of New South Wales; and Nicola Rosenblum, High Commissioner of Australia to Brunei Darussalam.
Also present to greet His Majesty were Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II and Haji Zakaria bin Haji Ahmad, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Australia.
From the airport, His Majesty boarded a motorcade towards a renowned hotel in Sydney where the monarch will reside throughout the duration of the summit. Earlier in the day, prior to leaving Istana Nurul Iman for Australia, a Doa Selamat was recited by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.
Present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar in Rimba to bid farewell to the monarch were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; as well as other members of the royal family.
Also present were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria; Speaker of the Legislative Council; Cabinet Ministers; members of the Privy Council; deputy ministers; the Commissioner of Police and the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.