| Achong Tanjong |
THE relationship between Saudi Arabia and Brunei Darussalam was further strengthened following a groundbreaking ceremony for the new premises of the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam and residence of the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam at Jalan Kebangsaan yesterday.
Present at the ceremony was Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud.
Charge d’Affaires at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam Hussain Mohammed Al-Dajani in his welcoming speech said, “More than 40 years have passed since Saudi-Brunei relations began, specifically in 1987, when the Saudi Ambassador to Manila was a non-resident Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam.
“The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia was opened in Brunei Darussalam in 1995. The embassy started full operations on January 1, 1996. Since then, the relations between the two countries have been progressing steadily for the better and are improving day by day.
“This is thanks to Allah the Almighty and to the prudent leaders of our two brotherly countries, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and 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.”
He said that the presence of the new embassy building, which will be built with modern architectural specifications and designs, will be a great interface to represent Saudi Arabia in Brunei.
“We are laying the foundation stone of the embassy building and the ambassador’s residence in Bandar Seri Begawan. It is a great pleasure for me and my colleagues to witness another level of growth in the relations between both countries, which would enable us to complete our efforts in elevating these relations to higher and wider horizons,” said Al-Dajani.
The Saudi envoy expressed thanks and appreciation on behalf of the Government of Saudi Arabia and his colleagues to the Government of Brunei Darussalam and its officials for their support in the construction of the new embassy.
Also present at yesterday’s event were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Brunei Darussalam Dr Fahad Mashary Al-Thafiri; Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Brunei Darussalam Sheik Ahmed bin Hashel bin Rashed bin Hashel Al-Maskari; High Commissioner of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MoFAT) Hajah Siti Norishan binti Haji Abdul Ghafor; Director of the Asia-Africa Department at the MoFAT Norazlianah binti Ibrahim; First Secretaries at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam Ali Abdullah A Al Shehry and Nawaf Mazi H Al Bdawi; and Attaché’ at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam Mohammed Saad K Al Subaie and Meshal Abdullah A Habshan.
The ceremony concluded with a Doa Selamat recitation by Imam Azame bin Alias.