Sultan of Brunei Hosts Singaporean Delegation for Young Leaders’ Programme
Bandar Seri Begawan – His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, received His Excellency Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of the Republic of Singapore, at Istana Nurul Iman on the afternoon of 12th December.
According to Radio Television Brunei, His Excellency Lawrence Wong was accompanied by a high-ranking Singaporean delegation, including His Excellency Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, and several other ministers and senior officials. The Bruneian side included Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Retired Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohammad Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Defence, among others.
The audience ceremony was particularly significant as it marked His Excellency Lawrence Wong’s first leadership role in the 9th installment of the Young Leaders’ Programme (YLP). His Majesty recalled the speech by President Tony Tan Keng Yam during His Majesty’s State Visit to Singapore in April 2014, reaffirming his belief in the YLP’s role in strengthening the special relationship between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, a bond established during the era of his late father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji ‘Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, and the late Mr. Lee Kuan Yew.
His Majesty acknowledged the contributions of His Excellency Teo Chee Hean, who led the first YLP to Brunei in 2013, and commended his leadership for the program’s successes over the years. The ceremony also included discussions on strategic matters of mutual importance, particularly in defence, security, civil service, and capacity building through people-to-people exchanges. Moreover, both leaders explored potential collaborations in areas related to sustainability, including climate change and food security.
The 9th YLP, held from 12th to 14th December 2023, is an annual exchange program aimed at enhancing bilateral relations and providing a platform for future leaders to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional and global developments. The program is hosted alternately by Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, with the previous session held in 2022 in Singapore.