His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was hosted to a dinner reception by Husseyin Avni Mutlu, the Governor of Istanbul, at the Sait Halim Pasha Mansion on Sunday night.

His Majesty was greeted on arrival at the Sait Halim Pasha Mansion by the Governor of Istanbul.

Prior to the dinner, His Majesty and the Governor, along with other high-level Bruneian and Turkish officials, took a group photo at the balcony of the mansion, which overlooks the Bosphorus Strait. His Majesty then proceeded to the banquet room for the dinner.

Following the dinner, His Majesty and the Governor took a walk along the mansion's balcony to view the night scenery of the Bosphorus Strait, before leaving for the hotel where His Majesty is residing throughout His Majesty's five-day State Visit to Turkey.

Accompanying His Majesty at the dinner were Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister's Office, Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abdul Rahman bin Hj Ibrahim; the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Awg Lim Jock Seng; the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia Dr Awg Hj Mohd Yasmin bin Hj Umar; and other senior officials.

From Istanbul, His Majesty, accompanied by His Majesty's delegation, would travel to the capital city Ankara where His Majesty is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Abdullah Gul today for an official welcoming at the Presidential Palace before holding a four-eye meeting and a bilateral meeting.

His Majesty is also expected to witness an MoU signing and attend an official state banquet dinner. According to the Brunei secretariat in Istanbul, the MoU will among others encompass mutual agreements on trade, economic and technical cooperation and a mutual agreement on the abolition of visa.

Prior to leaving Istanbul, His Majesty visited several places of interest in the historic city on the second and third day of His Majesty's State Visit to Turkey. - Borneo Bulletin (10 April 2012)