Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a historic state visit to Brunei, marking the first-ever bilateral trip by an Indian prime minister to the Southeast Asian nation. The visit, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Brunei, is part of a two-nation tour that also includes a visit to Singapore.

On the second day of his visit, Prime Minister Modi met with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the second-longest reigning monarch in the world after the late Queen Elizabeth II. Sultan Bolkiah, who was once considered the world's richest person with an estimated net worth of $30 billion, welcomed Modi for bilateral talks aimed at strengthening ties between the two countries.

In a post shared on X, Prime Minister Modi expressed his delight in meeting the Sultan, noting that their discussions were broad-ranging and focused on further deepening the bilateral relationship. He highlighted plans to expand trade, enhance commercial links, and promote people-to-people exchanges between India and Brunei. The two leaders also agreed to collaborate on mutual interests in agriculture, industry, pharmaceuticals, health, technology, and cybersecurity.

Prime Minister Modi emphasized that both nations will pursue joint efforts in space technology, including satellite development, remote sensing, and training. He also announced the establishment of direct connectivity between the two countries, which is expected to boost engagement and cooperation.

The meeting between Modi and Sultan Bolkiah is not their first; the two had previously met on the sidelines of the 25th ASEAN Summit in Nay Pyi Taw in November 2014 and again during the 2017 East Asia Summit in Manila. This latest meeting marks a new chapter in India-Brunei relations, with both leaders focusing on key areas of cooperation such as defense, trade, investment, energy, and health. Several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) are also expected to be signed as part of the visit.

Following their bilateral talks, Sultan Bolkiah hosted Prime Minister Modi for a banquet lunch at Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's official residence. The palace, recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest in the world, features 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, and 44 staircases made from 38 types of marble.

After the lunch, Prime Minister Modi departed for Singapore, where he was scheduled to meet with members of the Indian community before being hosted for dinner by Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Earlier in his visit, Modi took the opportunity to visit the renowned Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Brunei, one of the most iconic structures in the region. He also inaugurated the new chancery of the Indian High Commission in Brunei, further symbolizing the strengthening of ties between the two countries. During his time in Brunei, the prime minister engaged with local officials, scholars, and members of the Indian community, who turned out in large numbers to greet him.