QASHR AL-MEEZAN, Thursday, 15 February 2024 – His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office consented to receive in audience Major General Thomas Julian Bateman, General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division, British Army. The Audience Ceremony took place at Qashr Al-Meezan today.
Accompanying Major General Bateman were His Excellency John Virgoe, British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam and Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Stanford-Tuck, Commander of British Forces Brunei (BFB).
Also present was Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
During the audience, Major General Bateman expressed his appreciation and gratitude for His Royal Highness support in visiting the Royal Gurkha Rifles at Tuker Lines in Seria and Exercise Sunda Patrol at Training Area B, Andulau Forest Reserve, Sungai Liang, Kuala Belait last year.
The visit by His Royal Highness reflects the cordial diplomatic and defence relations that have long been established between Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom. The two countries have established bilateral defence cooperation through the Exchange of Notes since September 1983 and this relationship has been further enhanced and strengthened through numerous Memorandums of Understanding that have been signed between both sides.
Major General Bateman is currently on a working visit in Brunei Darussalam from 14 February 2024 to 15 February 2024.
DULI YANG TERAMAT MULIA PADUKA SERI PENGIRAN MUDA MAHKOTA PENGIRAN MUDA HAJI AL-MUHTADEE BILLAH, MENTERI KANAN DI JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI BERKENAN MENERIMA MENGADAP GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING 1ST (UNITED KINGDOM) DIVISION, BRITISH ARMY
QASHR AL-MEEZAN, Khamis, 15 Februari 2024 - Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Menteri Kanan di Jabatan Perdana Menteri telah berkenan menerima mengadap Mejar Jeneral Thomas Julian Bateman, General Officer Commanding 1st (United Kingdom) Division, British Army. Majlis Mengadap tersebut berlangsung di Qashr Al-Meezan pada hari ini.
Menyertai Mejar Jeneral Bateman ialah Tuan Yang Terutama John Virgoe, Pesuruhjaya Tinggi British Ke Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Leftenan Kolonel Hugo Stanford-Tuck, Pemerintah Angkatan Tentera British di Negara Brunei Darussalam (BFB).
Turut hadir ialah Mejar Jeneral Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB).
Semasa Majlis Mengadap berkenaan, Mejar Jeneral Bateman turut menyembahkan ucapan penghargaan dan menjunjung kasih kehadapan Majlis Duli Yang Teramat Mulia atas keberangkatan lawatan Duli Yang Teramat Mulia ke Royal Gurkha Rifles ke Tuker Lines, Seria dan Eksesais Sunda Patrol di Kawasan Latihan B, Hutan Simpan Andulau, Sungai Liang, Kuala Belait pada tahun lepas.
Keberangkatatan lawatan Duli Yang Teramat Mulia tersebut mencerminkan kemesraan hubungan diplomatik dan pertahanan yang telah lama terjalin di antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan United Kingdom. Kedua-dua buah negara telah menjalinkan kerjasama pertahanan dua hala melalui Pertukaran Nota sejak September 1983 dan hubungan ini dipertingkatkan dan diperkukuhkan lagi melalui pelbagai Memorandum Persefahaman yang telah termeterai di antara kedua belah pihak.
Mejar Jeneral Bateman berada di Negara Brunei Darussalam dari 14 Februari 2024 hingga 15 Februari 2024 bagi lawatan kerja.