His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, arrived in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia last afternoon to attend the 18th Asean Summit.

Present at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport to greet His Majesty were Professor Dr Muhammad Nuh, Minister of National Education, Ahmad Rusdi, representative of the Chief of Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials from the Republic of Indonesia.

Also at the airport were Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister's Office; Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; and Dato Paduka Brigadier General (Rtd) Haji Mahmud bin Haji Saidin, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of Indonesia.

The 18th Asean Summit will be held from the 7th to the 8th of May 2011 at the Jakarta Convention Centre, Jakarta, Indonesia and will be chaired by Dato Laila Utama Dr Haji Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of the Republic of Indonesia.

The theme of the Summit is 'Asean Community in a Global Community of Nations'.

Earlier His Majesty left the Brunei International Airport on his visit to the Republic of Indonesia.

Before departing, a doa selamat was read at the Istana Nurul Iman by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Dr Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.

Present to bid farewell to His Majesty at the Berakas International Airport were His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Wakeel and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah.

Also present at the airport were Pengiran Cheterias, Members of the Privy Council, Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force.

Meanwhile Bernama reported that the summit, themed "Asean Community in a Global Community of Nations", is expected to deliberate on matters related to the East Asia Summit (EAS), a significant issue given the involvement of Russia and the United States in the grouping beginning this year.

The leaders are also expected to touch on measures on how Asean could speak in a coordinated, coherent and cohesive manner on global issues and exchange views of common concern including how to further promote nuclear safety measures in the region.

Five meetings will be held during the summit, namely the Plenary and Retreat Sessions, Asean Leaders' Meeting with Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Representatives, Asean Leaders' Informal Meeting with Youth Representatives, Asean Leaders Informal Meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Representatives and the Seventh Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Summit. - Borneo Bulletin (7th May 2011)