Brunei Hosts 7th Young Leaders’ Programme

SENIOR Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean led a large delegation of Singapore political office-holders in Negara Brunei Darussalam from the 1^stto 4^thOctober 2019 for the 7^thYoung Leaders’ Programme (YLP).

THE delegation included Ms Grace Fu (Minister for Culture, Community and Youth), Mr Masagos Zulkifli (Minister for the Environment and Water Resources), Mr Heng Chee How (Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence), Mr Edwin Tong (Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Law and Ministry of Health) and Dr Tan Wu Meng (Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Trade and Industry).

SM Teo and Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah meeting participants from the Singapore-Brunei Youth Leadership Exchange Programme. Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information, MCI

Started in 2013, the YLP is an annual exchange of visits that Brunei and Singapore take turns to host. The YLP reflects a long-term commitment of Singapore and Brunei to enhance the special bilateral relationship, including through the strengthening of ties between the younger generation leaders of both countries.

SM Teo and the delegation had an audience withHis Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, where they discussed regional issues and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the special relationship between Singapore and Brunei. SM Teo and the delegation had a separate audience with Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha. SM Teo, Mrs Teo and the delegation also had an audience with and were hosted to lunch by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office of Negara Brunei Darussalam, and Her Royal Highness Princess Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, where they discussed recent developments in the region and reaffirmed their

SM Teo viewing exhibits of student projects at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information, MCI

commitment to deepening longstanding and strong ties, and exploring further collaboration. This was followed by an announcing of the formation of a Singapore-Brunei Joint Working Group for Agri-Food Collaboration, between the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore, and the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Negara Brunei Darussalam.

The Singapore delegation also visited Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Universiti Teknologi Brunei, where SM Teo delivered a speech entitled “A Special Partnership for a Brighter Future,” on Singapore-Brunei relations and how both countries can strengthen cooperation to deal with global challenges. During the visit, the delegation were also hosted to briefings on Brunei’s economic and financial developments, as well as agricultural and aquacultural site visits.

SM Teo and the delegation were further hosted to breakfast by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office of Negara Brunei Darussalam, and Her Royal Highness Princess Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah. They also visited the Royal Brunei Navy Headquarters at Muara Naval Base, and were hosted at a high tea reception by Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yusof, where they reaffirmed strong bilateral defence relations, and efforts to explore other mutually beneficial areas ofdefence cooperation.