Prime Minister Lawrence Wong travelled to Brunei for the 11th Young Leaders’ Programme to further strengthen longstanding ties and explore new areas of collaboration.
Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong conducted an official visit to Negara Brunei Darussalam from 3 to 4 November 2025 to participate in the 11th Singapore-Brunei Young Leaders’ Programme (YLP). The visit was made at the invitation of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei.
The YLP, launched in 2013, has served as a key platform for fostering close relations and deepening mutual understanding between the next generation of leaders from Singapore and Brunei. The programme reflects the enduring friendship and special bilateral relationship between both countries and supports ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation across strategic sectors. This year’s discussions also took place in the context of significant upcoming milestones, including the 50th anniversary of bilateral defence relations in 2026 and the 60th anniversary of the Currency Interchangeability Agreement in 2027.
Image by: MDDI
During the visit, Prime Minister Wong had audiences with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Billah. The Sultan hosted Prime Minister Wong to lunch, while the Crown Prince hosted a welcome dinner. Prime Minister Wong also visited a range of health-related facilities in Jerudong to observe developments in Brunei’s healthcare ecosystem.
Prime Minister Wong was accompanied by Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat, Senior Minister of State for Health and Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon, Minister of State for Digital Development and Information and Education Jasmin Lau, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth and for Sustainability and the Environment Goh Hanyan, and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and National Development Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi, along with officials from the Prime Minister’s Office and relevant agencies.
Image by: MDDI
The visit reaffirmed Singapore and Brunei’s deep-rooted friendship, underpinned by regular high-level exchanges, strong defence cooperation, and extensive economic and people-to-people ties. In Prime Minister Wong’s absence, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong served as Acting Prime Minister.
Source: Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs
