Lee Hsien Loong to attend Brunei Sultan's 80th birthday; Singapore leaders send congratulations

Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong is visiting Brunei to represent Singapore at the 80th birthday celebrations of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The visit, from Tuesday to Friday, includes attending the royal guard of honour parade, the investiture ceremony, and a royal banquet. Lee will also have audiences with the sultan and members of the royal family, and meet with ministers and Singapore Armed Forces personnel training in Brunei.

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Your Majesty’s enlightened vision for Brunei’s modernisation and development has uplifted the lives of generations of Bruneians.

Singaporean leaders have extended their congratulations to the sultan, emphasizing the close and long-standing relationship between the two nations. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam noted Brunei's peace, stability, and progress under the sultan's leadership, attributing it to his "enlightened vision." He also highlighted the "special and enduring relationship" fostered by the sultan's personal bonds with Singapore's Prime Ministers, tracing back to the friendship between the late Sultan Seri Begawan and Lee Kuan Yew.

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It is a relationship that can be traced back to the friendship and camaraderie between the late Seri Begawan and Mr Lee Kuan Yew, and that has grown with the personal bonds that Your Majesty has forged with each and every Singapore Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong echoed these sentiments, stating the sultan has "adroitly steered" Brunei through global challenges. Wong drew parallels between Brunei and Singapore as small nations needing to remain open to the world. He praised the sultan's "distinguished stewardship" for the peace and prosperity enjoyed by Bruneians. The prime minister also pointed to the strong bilateral defense and monetary cooperation, noting the 50th anniversary of defense ties and the 60th anniversary of currency interchangeability this year.

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Your Majesty has adroitly steered Brunei through exceptional challenges in a rapidly changing world since its independence in 1984.