ISTANBUL

Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong paid his first overseas trip to Brunei on Tuesday, marking the start of a series of visits to Southeast Asian neighbors.

Wong met with Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and reaffirmed the special relationship between Singapore and Brunei, which predates their formal diplomatic ties.

He thanked Bolkiah for his steadfast support and reaffirmed Singapore’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations.

Two leaders discussed enhancing cooperation in areas like food security, energy, and civil service exchanges.

Wong highlighted the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations and expressed gratitude for Brunei's support for training programs of the Singapore Armed Forces in Brunei.

Wong will travel to Malaysia on Wednesday as a part of a broader plan to visit other Southeast Asian nations, in a bid to foster strong regional ties.

He was sworn in as Singapore's new prime minister last month, marking the first leadership change in 20 years.