| Izah Azahari |
HER Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah graced the Omani Cultural Night at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall of The Empire Hotel & Country Club last night.
Her Royal Highness was greeted by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, as well as Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Brunei Darussalam Sheikh Ahmed bin Hashel bin Rashed bin Hashel Al-Maskari.
Undersecretary at the Ministry of Information of the Sultanate of Oman Ali bin Khalfan Al-Jabri was also present.
The event began with welcoming remarks from the ambassador who highlighted the successful participation of the country of honour in the Brunei Book Fair which was launched recently and continues until March 5.
The ambassador also explained that the Sultanate of Oman booth at the Brunei Book Fair showcases Omani publications and highlights cultural, historic and literacy heritage of Oman as well as renaissance achievements in various fields, as well as celebrating the similarities between Brunei and Oman in terms of preservation of cultural and traditional values while keeping up with development and technology.
A number of Omani cultural performances will also take place during the book fair period such as Oud Musical Performance, making of Omani Halwa, henna painting, and Arabic calligraphy.
The ambassador explained that Oman’s participation in the Brunei Book Fair aims to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and to boost people to people connectivity, which is part of public diplomacy that complements traditional and formal diplomacy.
“We are further proud of the major milestones achieved over the last few years in the cordial friendship and excellent bilateral relations between our two brotherly Sultanates in the field of culture,” said the ambassador. He noted the regular participation over the past few years at various cultural and intellectual activities organised either in Brunei or Oman, such as the Muscat Festival, Salah Tourism Festival and Muscat Book Fair – which Brunei is currently taking part.
Such bilateral cultural activities, said the ambassador, helps shed some light on the diversity of different cultures, helping us to learn just a little bit more about the other, thus progressively moving all towards a reconciliation of cultures.
“This is in line with the directives of our two brotherly governments, which believe in the inter-connected values of tolerance, understanding and coexistence which are the building blocks of a true culture of peace, based on a commitment to the universal principles of human dignity and harmony,” added the ambassador.
The event continued with the presentation of a token of appreciation to Her Royal Highness from the Undersecretary at the Ministry of Information of the Sultanate of Oman, and a number of live performances by an Omani Music Band and joint-musical performances by the Omani Music Band and Senandong Budaya of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The event also saw the launching of a documentary film on the bilateral relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Sultanate of Oman, titled Brunei as viewed by an Omani lens.