His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, yesterday consented to receive Letters of Credence from four foreign envoys to the country, namely: Nguyen Truong Giang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Socialist Republic of Vietnam; Todd Norman Mercer, High Commissioner of Australia; Roland Christian Grafe, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany; and Mohammad Abdul Hye, High Commissioner of People's Republic of Bangladesh.

Following the ceremony, His Majesty granted separate audiences to the two newly-appointed High Commissioners and two newly-appointed Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Brunei Darussalam, according to a press release.

First to be received in audience by His Majesty was Nguyen Truong Giang, 54, who previously served as Director General, Department of

Communication-Information and Documentation, National Boundary Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He also previously has served as Ambassador of Vietnam to the Republic of Austria, Slovakia and Croatia.

His Majesty then consented to receive in audience Todd Norman Mercer, 49, who previously served as Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Mexico. In 2010, he was appointed as Acting High Commissioner of Australia to Kenya.

His Majesty later consented to receive in audience Roland Christian Grafe, 60, who previously served as Head of Division, Federal Foreign Office and also had served as Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Lastly, His Majesty consented to receive in audience Mohammed Abdul Hye, 47, who previously served as Director General in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People's Republic of Bangladesh, and also formerly served at the Bangladesh Embassy in Manama, Bahrain.

The ceremonies took place at the Istana Nurul Iman. - Borneo Bulletin (30 September 2012)