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 on Thursday evening consented to attend the opening ceremony of the 12th Asia-Europe Summit Meeting (ASEM) and a gala dinner hosted in conjunction with the summit.
Accompanying His Majesty to both events was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
Upon arrival at the Europa Building, Brussels in Belgium, His Majesty was officially welcomed by the European Council President Donald Tusk as Chairman of the 12th ASEM, as well as by the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
After the welcoming ceremony, His Majesty consented to take a group photo and then proceeded to attend the opening ceremony of the summit.
The event began with an opening statement by Donald Tusk followed by statements from Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga as host of the 11th ASEM in 2016, and Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
After the opening ceremony, His Majesty consented to proceed to the gala dinner together with other leaders and heads of delegation.
The dinner, held at the Grand Narthex Hall of the Musées Royaux d’Art et d’Histoire, was in honour of the leaders and heads of delegation attending the 12th ASEM.
Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon His Majesty consented to attend a bilateral meeting with the Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas at the Wiltcher’s Steigenberger Hotel in Brussels.
Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
During the meeting, His Majesty and Juri Ratas discussed global affairs focussing on security and economic opportunities, as well as collaboration in the fields of e-government and cyber-security.
Accompanying the Estonian Prime Minister was Permanent Representative of Estonia to the European Union (EU) Rein Tammsaar.
Others in attendance were Special Adviser to His Majesty and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof and Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Belgium Abu Sufian bin Haji Ali, who is also Brunei’s Permanent Representative to the EU.