| Rahwani Zahari |
LAO People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister Dr Thongloun Sisoulith and delegation arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday for a two-day official visit to Brunei Darussalam.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office as personal representative of 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 welcomed the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Prime Minister at the Brunei International Airport.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof as the Minister-in-Attendance and Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof were also present.
Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Haji Na’aim bin Haji Mohd Salleh and Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to Brunei Darussalam Phonethavy Boutdara were also present.
His Royal Highness together with Dr Thongloun Sisoulith then proceeded to the dais to receive the salute of honour, followed by the national anthems of both countries. The Lao Prime Minister then inspected the guard of honour mounted by members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
He was then introduced to the Cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, the Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force, the Commander of the RBAF, and ASEAN foreign envoys in Brunei Darussalam as well as permanent secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His Royal Highness was also introduced to members of the delegation of the Prime Minister of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
The delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Saleumxay Kommasith.
Diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic were established on July 27, 1993.
Since then, the two countries have been cooperating extensively in various fields including education, technical assistance, and culture, youth and sports.