HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam arrived safely in Seoul, Republic of Korea last night for a three-day State Visit from December 8 to 10, 2014.

Present at the Seoul Air Base, Seongnam, Republic of Korea to greet His Majesty were Cho Tae-yong, First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea; Yoon Yeo-cheol, Chief of Protocol of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea; Cho Won-myung, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Brunei Darussalam; and Lieutenant General Sung Hwan-ro, Chief of Air Base of the Republic of Korea; as well as senior officers of the Government of the Republic of Korea.

Also present to greet His Majesty were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office; and Dato Paduka Awang Haji Harun bin Haji Ismail, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of Korea.

His Majesty consented to walk past a Static Guard mounted by 20 personnel from the Republic of Korea Air Force followed by a 21-gun salute before boarding the motorcade to the Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel, where His Majesty will reside.

Upon arrival at the Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel, His Majesty was greeted by the hotel’s General Manager, David Pacey.

Also present to greet His Majesty at the Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel were about 80 students and citizens of Brunei Darussalam who are in the Republic of Korea.

Accompanying His Majesty to the Republic of Korea is 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.

Earlier yesterday, before leaving the Istana Nurul Iman, a Doa Selamat was read by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.

Present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar to bid farewell to His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah; as well as other members of the royal family.

Also present at the hangar to bid farewell to His Majesty were YAM Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria; the Speaker of the Legislative Council; Cabinet Ministers; Members of the Privy Council; Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; and Commissioner of Police.

His Majesty’s State Visit is at the invitation of President Park Geun-hye, the Seoul Presidential Office stated.

President Park and His Majesty will hold a summit and attend a State Dinner today.

During the meeting, they are expected to discuss ways to expand substantive cooperation that will benefit both sides in a variety of areas, including the economy, industry, national defence and the defence industry as well as exchanges in social affairs and culture.

They will also exchange views on regional affairs involving the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and Asean and on how to work together in the international arena.

His Majesty’s State Visit comes at a time when South Korea and Brunei are celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties, and it will become a critical milestone in improving bilateral relations.

It is also anticipated to serve as a catalyst in boosting substantive and cooperative ties and building the close friendship between the people of the two countries. - Borneo Bulletin (9 December 2014)