HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani held a round of official talks with the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Hassanal Bolkiah, at the Sultani Palace yesterday afternoon.
They discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them in different fields. Regional and international issues of common interest were also reviewed
Members of the official delegation accompanying HH the Emir attended the talks.
The talks were attended on the Brunei side by Crown Prince Darussalam al-Muhtadee Billah and a number of ministers.
Before the talks HH the Emir and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah held a meeting.
HH the Emir, along with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, later witnessed the signing of two agreements and two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two governments.
One of the agreements was on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of financial evasion with respect to taxes on income while the other one was for economic, commercial and technical co-operation. The two MoUs were on educational and cultural co-operation.
The Emir attended a dinner banquet hosted by the Sultan at Istana Nurul Iman Sultani Palace.
The Emir arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan early yesterday on a one-day state visit to Brunei Darussalam. The Emir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Brunei International Airport by Crown Prince al-Muhtadee Billah along with a number of high-ranking officials and charge d’affaires of the Qatari embassy in Brunei, Ahmad Ibrahim al-Abdullah.
Upon his arrival, the Emir gave a statement in which he expressed pleasure to visit Brunei at the invitation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
He extended sincere greetings and best wishes of progress, welfare and prosperity to the government and people of Brunei.
He expressed confidence that the talks between the two countries would have “a great impact in promoting bilateral co-operation in all fields for the welfare and interests of the two people”.
He then headed to Istana Nurul Iman Palace where he was accorded a red -carpet reception welcome.
The Emir and the accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at the palace by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah along with a number of princes, ministers, senior civil and military officials and ambassadors accredited to Brunei.
Earlier yesterday, the Emir left Hanoi, wrapping up a two-day state visit to Vietnam.
HH the Emir and the accompanying delegation were seen off upon departure at Noi Bai International Airport by the chief of the Vietnamese Presidency Affairs, Ngowin Ven Geyan, several high-ranking officials, Qatar’s ambassador to Vietnam, Mohamed Jaber Abdullah al-Sulaiti, and Vietnam’s ambassador to Qatar, Li Hong Van.
The Emir sent a cable to President Truong Tan Sang, expressing thanks and gratitude for the hospitality accorded to him and his accompanying delegation during the visit.
Before leaving Hanoi, the Emir met with of Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the party’s Central Committee headquarters. Issues of mutual concern were discussed during the meeting.
