Japan-Brunei Relations

Prime Minister Kishida welcomed Crown Prince Billah's visit to Japan while the two countries celebrated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations as the Japan-Brunei Friendship Year. Prime Minister Kishida also expressed his gratitude for Brunei's message of condolences and solidarity over the Noto Peninsula Earthquake at the beginning of this year. Moreover, Prime Minister Kishida welcomed the elevation of Japan-Brunei relations to a strategic partnership, and stated that Japan would continue to strengthen cooperation with Brunei and ASEAN in order to maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law and to ensure a world where human dignity is protected.
In response, Crown Prince Billah expressed his gratitude for hospitality by the Japanese side, and stated that it was his pleasure to visit Japan on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the Japan-Brunei Friendship Year. Crown Prince Billah also expressed his condolences for the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake 13 years ago.

Prime Minister Kishida expressed his gratitude for Brunei’s longstanding stable supply of LNG to Japan, and stated that Japan would further strengthen cooperation in energy transition and decarbonization through the outcome of the Asia Zero Emission Community(AZEC) Leader’s Meeting held last December and its assistance to the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change. In response, Crown Prince Billah expressed his desire to promote cooperation with Japan in these areas.
Both sides welcomed the exchange of the Notes Verbale regarding the extension of the period of short-term stay without a visa, and concurred to further facilitate people-to-people exchange through exchange programs such as JENESYS.
Prime Minister Kishida stated that it was critically important for the two countries, both of which are maritime nations, to maintain and strengthen the maritime order based on the rule of law, and that Japan would continue to contribute to Brunei's capacity building in the field of maritime security. In response, Crown Prince Billah expressed his gratitude for Japan’s capacity building assistance, and stated that he would like to continue to promote cooperation with Japan.

Both sides exchanged views on various regional and international issues, including Japan-ASEAN relations, the situations in the East and South China Seas, the response to North Korea on the nuclear and missile issues as well as the abductions issue, and the situation surrounding Israel and Palestine, and confirmed to continue to work closely for the peace and prosperity of the region.

After the meeting, in the presence of Prime Minister Kishida and Crown Prince Billah, H.E. Mr. MAEDA Toru, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Brunei Darussalam exchanged the Notes Verbale regarding the extension of the period of short-term stay without a visa with H.E. Mr. Haji Shahbudin Haji Musa, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to Japan.

The dinner was held in a very friendly atmosphere, and the conversation covered a wide range of topics including tourism, culture, and sports exchange.