Brunei Sultan, Dr M hold Annual Leaders' Consultation today
PUTRAJAYA: The Sultan of Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will have their maiden meeting under the MalaysiaBrunei Annual Leaders' Consultation framework here today.
The Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders' Consultation, the highest platform for discussion of a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of common concern, would be the 22nd in the series.
The 21st consultation was held in Bandar Seri Begawan on Nov 23, 2017.
The Foreign Ministry, Wisma Putra, said in a statement yesterday that the special relationship between the two countries is based on a common heritage and culture.
"Building on this special relationship, both leaders will take the opportunity of this important visit and annual meeting to appraise the progress of the ongoing cooperation and explore new potentials for a more comprehensive partnership that can mutually benefit the peoples of the two countries," it said.
Dr Mahathir and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, are scheduled to host a luncheon in honour of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Dr Mahathir and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah had exchanged visits in May and September last year, following the appointment of Dr Mahathir as Malaysia's seventh prime minister.
Malaysia is a major investor in Brunei Darussalam from the ASEAN region, with Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounting to US$486.74 million in 2017 or nearly 90.9 per cent of the total FDI of US$535.27 million from fellow ASEAN member states into Brunei Darussalam.
Trade between Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam totalled US$981.2 million in 2018.