| Bahyiah Bakir |
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, arrived in Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam yesterday for a State Visit.
Accompanying His Majesty is His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
Present at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi to welcome His Majesty were Chairman of the Presidential Office as the Minister-in-Attendance Dao Viet Trung, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung, and Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Brunei Darussalam Do Anh Tuan.
Also present to greet His Majesty were 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 the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pengiran Haji Sahari bin Pengiran Haji Salleh.
Upon arrival, His Majesty was presented with a bouquet of flowers. His Majesty then walked past a static guard of honour mounted by members of the People’s Army of Vietnam before boarding a motorcade to a leading hotel in Hanoi where His Majesty will reside throughout the State Visit.
Diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were established on February 29, 1992.
Since then, the two countries have enjoyed broadening cooperation in various areas including trade, energy, agriculture and fisheries, communication, education, defence and people-to-people exchanges.
His Majesty left for Hanoi yesterday for a three-day State Visit until March 28.
Prior to departure from Istana Nurul Iman, a Doa Selamat was recited by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.
Present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar in Rimba to bid farewell to His Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen were 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, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Also present were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Privy Council, deputy ministers, Acting Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and Acting Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force.