Vivian Balakrishnan visits Brunei to reaffirm close ties, will also visit Malaysia, Indonesia
SINGAPORE – Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan will be visiting Brunei on Monday (March 22) to reaffirm the close and longstanding special relationship between Singapore and the country.
Dr Balakrishnan will also have an audience during his visit with Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement on Monday.
He will also meet and be hosted to a meal by Brunei’s Second Foreign Minister Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof.
MFA did not elaborate on the purpose of the visit, but last week Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for a meeting of South-east Asian leaders to discuss the crisis in Myanmar.
Brunei is the current chair of the Association of South-east Asian Nations.
Dr Balakrishnan will be accompanied by officials from MFA, and will also visit Malaysia and Indonesia after his trip to Brunei.
Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday that Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Tun Hussein will host Dr Balakrishnan on a two-day working visit from Tuesday to Wednesday.
It said the visit is part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen existing close ties between Malaysia and Singapore.
Mr Hishammuddin and Dr Balakrishnan are expected to discuss issues of common interest to both countries in the context of bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international issues, the statement said.
Both ministers “will also explore post Covid-19 collaboration, including reciprocal vaccination certification, which will benefit both the nations,” it added.
Dr Balakrishnan is also scheduled to call on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and hold meetings with several other ministers including Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Azmin Ali, Senior Minister of Defence Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob, and Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Khairy Jamaluddin.
“The visit will be conducted in full compliance with the health and safety protocolsset by the Ministry of Health and in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures approved by the National Security Council,” the statement added.