New Delhi: Prime minister Narendra ModiModi’s state visit to Brunei reached a high point on 4 September with a special lunch hosted by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at the Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan’s official residence. Following a series of bilateral talks, the Sultan extended a warm gesture to Prime Minister Modi with a curated menu that showcased a blend of traditional and contemporary flavours. During his visit, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah hosted a distinguished lunch at his residence, the Istana Nurul Iman. This occasion, held on the second day of Prime Minister Modi’s visit, marked the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei.
The Indian Embassy in Brunei shared highlights of the meal on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the delicious dishes prepared. The lunch menu included:
First course
- Avocado
- Rice cake with vegetables
- Cucumber
- Asparagus with pickled radishes
- Lentil soup with crispy tortilla
- Broccoli
Second Course
- Vegetable quiche
- Spinach
- Forest mushrooms with black truffle
- Pumpkin and green pea puree (The artistic presentation of the puree subtly reflects the Indian tricolour.)
Main course
- Jeera Rice
- Channa Masala
- Vegetable Kofta
- Tomato Bhindi
- Grilled Lobster
- Tasmanian Salmon
- Scallops with prawns and barley and coconut risotto
Dessert
- Mango Saffron Peda
- Motichoor Ladoo
- Surti Ghari Pistachio (Served on an elegant maroon and gold plate)
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Brunei
India and Brunei have elevated their ties to an “enhanced partnership” after Prime Minister Modi held wide-ranging talks with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah covering defence, trade and investment.
“We support development policy and not expansionism,” Prime Minister Modi said at a banquet hosted by Sultan Bolkiah, without naming any country.
China has hotly contested territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims most of the South China Sea, while the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims.
“We agree that a Code of Conduct should be finalised in this region,” Modi said, adding that India has always prioritised ASEAN centrality and will continue to do so.
“We support freedom of navigation and overflight under international laws like UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” said Modi, the first Indian prime minister to travel to Brunei on a bilateral visit.
A joint statement issued after their talks said the two leaders “reiterated their commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime security and safety, as well as to respecting freedom of navigation and overflight and unhindered lawful trade, in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).” It added that the two leaders urged all parties to resolve disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 UNCLOS.
Describing Brunei as an “important partner” in India’s Act East policy and Indo-Pacific Vision, Modi said his talks with the Sultan included ways to further consolidate bilateral ties and the two sides will further expand trade relations, business ties and people-to-people exchanges.
“India and Brunei have deep historical and cultural ties. This year, we are celebrating the 40th anniversary of our diplomatic ties. On this occasion, we have decided to commemorate our relations as a Strengthened Partnership,” Modi said.
Their talks covered a wide range of topics including defence, trade and investment, food security, education, energy, space technology, health, capacity building, culture, as well as people-to-people exchanges. They agreed to explore and pursue collaboration in areas such as ICT, fintech, cybersecurity, new and emerging technologies, and renewable energy.
“We have held extensive discussions on various aspects of our ties to give a strategic direction to our partnership. We are committed to strengthening our cooperation in economic, scientific and strategic sectors. We have decided to strengthen our cooperation in FinTech and Cybersecurity along with agro-industry, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors,” Modi said.
“We discussed the potential for long-term cooperation in the field of LNG. To strengthen our defence cooperation, we held a constructive dialogue on the possibilities of cooperation in the defence industry, training and capacity building. To strengthen our cooperation in the space sector, we agreed on cooperation in satellite development, remote sensing and training,” he said.
The two leaders exchanged views on regional and global issues, condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called on States to repudiate it.
They reiterated their commitment to work closely together in mutually beneficial areas to further strengthen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
“Reflecting on the excellent progress achieved over the years in bilateral relations, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen, deepen and enhance the partnership in all areas of mutual interest,” the joint statement said.
Both leaders expressed their satisfaction that the historic visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and acknowledged that the deep friendship between Brunei and India has been strengthened in various areas over the past four decades.
They acknowledged that Brunei and India share historical ties dating back centuries, facilitated by cultural interactions and trade.
Both leaders agreed to further expand bilateral trade and economic ties in areas of mutual interest. They also underlined the importance of regular exchanges and dialogue to be held through key platforms such as the Joint Trade Committee (JTC) as well as other relevant bilateral, regional and multilateral forums.
They recognized the importance of food security and agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture and the food supply chain through the exchange of knowledge, best practices and experiences, the joint statement said.
The Prime Minister expressed his deep gratitude to Brunei for continuing to host the Indian Space Research Organisation (International Broadcasting Organization) NASA’s Telemetry and Telecommand Tracking Station, which has contributed to India’s continuing efforts in the field of space.
Both leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in various regional and multilateral forums and work together to enhance multilateralism that reflects contemporary realities.
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