(Eagle News) — President Rodrigo Duterte returned to the country early Saturday, October 7, from his “productive” trip to Brunei Darussalam, where he was assured by the Sultan of Brunei of his friendship with the Philippines and “principled commitment” to the pursuit of peace and development in Mindanao and the ASEAN.
President Duterte attended the golden jubilee anniversary of the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s ascension to the throne, and personally conveyed his warm greetings to the Brunei leader on the important occasion.
“The President also reaffirmed the long and enduring ties between the Philippines and Brunei Darussalam and renewed the special friendship between the two countries,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.
He said that the celebration in Brunei on October 6 was also an occasion for President Duterte to reaffirm ties with key leaders from within and outside of the region, including Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo and Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak.
Brunei Sultan, a true friend of the PHL — Duterte
“The President has described His Majesty the Sultan as a friend of the Philippines in the truest and most profound sense of the word; he also recognizes His Majesty the Sultan’s principled commitment to the pursuit of just and lasting peace and development in Mindanao, the well-being of Filipinos in Brunei Darussalam, and his unequalled efforts to bring the two countries closer to each other,” Abella said.
He said that the President personally conveyed the invitation for His Majesty to visit the Philippines again for the ASEAN Summit in November.
On Friday, October 6, President Duterte attended a Royal Banquet hosted by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to mark the Brunei leader’s 50th year as Sultan of Brunei.
His Majesty and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha extended a warm welcome to President Duterte and other foreign leaders and royalties who graced the occasion at Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei.
Brunei Darussalam
The President also personally extended his greetings and well wishes to His Majesty for his 50-year-long reign during an audience at the Royal Lounge Room prior to the state dinner.
“Wearing a simple Barong Tagalog, Duterte entered the palace hall walking alongside His Majesty. On the other side of the Sultan of Brunei was Indonesian President Joko Widodo,” a news release from Malacanang read.
“The President was seated beside Her Majesty during the state banquet,” it added.
Other heads of states, royalties and foreign dignitaries present during the banquet include Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, among others.
Also in attendance were Bahrain’s Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa representing His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, and His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and Her Royal Highness Sophie, Countess of Wessex were also present representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
-Commitment to peace and dev’t in Mindanao and ASEAN
“The President looks forward to further broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation with Brunei Darussalam, as well as to advancing efforts toward a more peaceful, prosperous and progressive ASEAN,” Abella said in a statement.
“The celebrations were a fitting tribute to a beloved Leader who made amity and cooperation a cornerstone of secure and stable relations between nations in Southeast Asia and beyond,” the statement added.
Malacanang said Duterte also thanked Bolkiah for his “principled” commitment to the “pursuit of just and lasting peace and development” in Mindanao, Duterte’s home region.
The Sultanate had recently promised to help in developing Mindanao, which is one of the focus areas of the ASEAN sub-regional grouping of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines or BIMP-EAGA.
“The President looks forward to further broaden and deepen bilateral cooperation with Brunei Darussalam, as well as to advancing efforts toward a more peaceful, prosperous and progressive ASEAN, Abella said.
President Duterte returned to Davao City early Saturday following the state banquet.