Prime Minister Modi's Historic Visit to Brunei: Strengthening Ties

India's PM Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Brunei marks a historic moment in bilateral relations. High Commissioner Alok Amitabh Dimri highlights the deep cultural and trade linkages between the two nations, emphasizing that this is the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei.

India's High Commissioner to Brunei, Alok Amitabh Dimri, has termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Brunei as a 'historic moment' for bilateral relations and the Indian community in Brunei.

In an interview, Dimri stated that PM Modi's visit is historic in numerous ways, noting the civilizational ties between the two countries. Dimri elaborated on the influence of Indian culture in Brunei, mentioning that this is the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brunei Darussalam since the establishment of diplomatic relations 40 years ago. He added that the visit symbolizes a high-level engagement between PM Modi and His Majesty the King of Brunei.

Dimri highlighted the deep cultural connection, including linguistic and architectural influences, as well as the Indian tradition of greeting. The visit coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Brunei. He also noted the significant role of the Indian diaspora in Brunei, which has a 100-year-old history, initially spurred by the discovery of oil in the region.

Dimri emphasized the significance of PM Modi's Act East Policy, positioning it as a driving force behind Indo-ASEAN relations. He pointed out the traditional and deep ties between India and Southeast Asian nations like Brunei, which have been more connected to India in terms of geoeconomics and geopolitics than many Central Asian nations.

Detailed by MEA official Jaideep Mazumdar, the visit aims to strengthen defense cooperation among other key strategic areas. Following his Brunei visit, PM Modi will travel to Singapore at the invitation of Singapore PM Lawrence Wong.

(With inputs from agencies.)