Speech by President Tony Tan at State Banquet hosted by HM Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam

Your Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

Your Majesty The Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha

Your Royal Highnesses

Excellencies

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

        May I begin by thanking Your Majesties for the generous hospitality extended to my wife Mary and me, and to the Singapore delegation. Bruneians have a well-deserved reputation for being warm and gracious hosts. Every time we come to Brunei, we are privileged to experience this first hand. 

        Mary and I are delighted to be back. I made my first official visit to Brunei almost three decades ago in 1985, soon after Brunei’s independence. Since then, I have visited Brunei many times in different capacities. But this trip has special meaning because it is my first State Visit to Brunei. 

        I say this because Singapore and Brunei are more than just partners with good relations. We were once two small countries trying to find our way in a challenging region. We shared a similarity of views, and a convergence of interests, and worked well together from the very start. We helped one another then and we continue to do so now. So I hope you will agree when I say that we are not just partners, but old and steadfast friends.

        This is a friendship based on mutual trust and respect. As Your Majesty said recently, our two countries have shared a special relationship since the time of the late Seri Begawan and Mr Lee Kuan Yew. They laid the foundation. The current generation of leaders has built on this foundation and strengthened it. I hope that the next generation will do the same.

        We have unique arrangements. Our extensive relationship in defence is extraordinary and has contributed to our mutual security. Singapore will always be grateful to Brunei for the provision of training areas for the Singapore Armed Forces. I believe that both our armed forces have benefited from this cooperation and grown together. Strong personal bonds have also been built between successive generations of soldiers. I will be visiting Muara Naval Base and I am very much looking forward to seeing the capabilities of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) first hand. Another example is our Currency Interchangeability Agreement (CIA), which allows our currencies to be used as customary tender in each other’s country. This stabilizes both monetary systems, and facilitates the flow of investments and tourists between us.

        These are just some examples of our broad-based relations. We continue to look for ways to deepen our ties and explore new areas of cooperation. This evening, our Health Ministries updated their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Health Cooperation. This is an area where we have had longstanding cooperation. The updated MoU will improve information sharing and expand collaboration into new areas like non-communicable diseases and health promotion. 

        Singapore's NParks has also been working with the Bruneian Forestry Department on a botanical survey of Brunei’s biodiversity and wonderful natural heritage. This survey collaboration will help create greater awareness of Brunei’s natural ecosystems. The scientific knowledge from this survey will hopefully enhance biodiversity and conservation policies worldwide. This will be signed by the respective officials tomorrow.

        Our relations are underpinned by warm personal ties. We have frequent contacts at the leadership level. In this regard, I am pleased that Your Majesty has accepted the invitation to make a return state visit. Mary and I look forward to welcoming Your Majesties to Singapore. There are also strong people to people ties. Many Bruneians have lived and studied in Singapore and I will be meeting some of them tomorrow. Singapore benefitted from the richness in views and experience that they brought to us. We hope that they, too, benefitted from their time in Singapore. 

        I find it especially heartening to see our youth working together to help others. I understand that Universiti Brunei Darussalam is cooperating with Singapore's Mercy Relief to enhance humanitarian efforts in ASEAN. Such ground-up initiatives will bring us even closer together. In connection to this, Mary and I will be visiting the Brunei Youth Centre. We are looking forward to speaking to Brunei’s youth to learn about their hopes and aspirations. Ultimately, it is the youth from both sides who will determine our respective futures.

        Finally, I would like to note that there is a small but active Singaporean community in Brunei. Many of them have lived here for many years. Individually, they are all our “Ambassadors” here. I would like to thank Your Majesty and the people of Brunei for welcoming them with open arms.  

        Mary and I are particularly grateful for your Majesties’ kindness in hosting us because we know that you are very busy in your role as ASEAN Chair. I congratulate your Majesty on the success in guiding ASEAN this year. Indeed, the recent 22^nd ASEAN Summit in Brunei went very well due to your Majesty’s leadership and clear vision. Singapore will continue to extend its full support to Brunei during your chairmanship.

        In an uncertain and rapidly changing world, the depth and strength of our relations remains an anchor. Singapore values this friendship greatly. I would like to thank Your Majesty personally for your unstinting support for strengthening our ties, and for encouraging closer interaction between our two countries. We look forward to continue working with Your Majesty to further deepen our ties in the years to come.