PM Narendra Modi embarks on visit to Brunei, Singapore

As he embarked on a visit to Brunei and Singapore Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the two nations are important partners in Indias Act East policy and asserted that his visits would further strengthen the partnership with the two countries and the larger ASEAN regionPM Narendra Modi is on a twonation visit from September 35 starting with BruneiToday I am embarking on a first ever bilateral visit to Brunei Darussalam As we celebrate the 40 years of our diplomatic relations I look forward to my meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other esteemed members of the Royal family to advance our historical relationship to new heights he said in his departure statement issued by the Ministry of External AffairsThe visit will further strengthen Indias cooperation with Brunei in all existing sectors including defence cooperation trade and investment energy space technology health cooperation capacity building culture as well as peopletopeople exchanges and explore avenues for cooperation in newer sectors the MEA earlier saidPM Narendra Modis visit to Brunei is the first bilateral visit of an Indian prime minister to that countryFrom Brunei I will travel to Singapore on September 4 I look forward to the opportunity to meet President Tharman Shanmugaratnam Prime Minister Lawrence Wong Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong I will also meet with leaders of the Singapores vibrant business community PM Narendra Modi saidThe prime minister said he looked forward to his discussions to deepen our Strategic Partnership with Singapore particularly in new and emerging areas of advanced manufacturing digitalisation and sustainable developmentBoth countries are important partners in our Act East Policy and the IndoPacific Vision I am confident that my visits would further strengthen our partnership with Brunei Singapore and the larger ASEAN region PM Narendra Modi saidTime ripe for IndiaSingapore bilateral relations to raise to next level EAM S JaishankarAhead of Prime Minister Narendra Modis arrival on an official visit to Singapore External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said the time is ripe for the two countries to take their bilateral relationship to the next levelGiven the transformation underway in India and the changes in the world they need to become more contemporary In many ways that is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has chosen to visit Singapore so early in his third term The Straits Times quoted Jaishankar as saying in an interview reported PTIHe said that India and Singapores bilateral ties have been extremely strong in the last two decadesJust like Singapore had an opportunity in 1992 and then again in 2006 it should seize the moment and fully utilise the new landscape the minister said reported PTIWith inputs from PTI