BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent congratulatory messages to the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, on the occasion of the monarch's 70th birthday, local news daily the Brunei Times said Wednesday.
In his message, Putin said the Sultan's name is "associated with the whole era in the modern history of Brunei", and that the Sultan "rightfully enjoys high authority" within Southeast Asia and beyond it.
"I highly appreciate the attention, that you permanently attach to the development of friendly relations between our countries. I warmly recollect our substantive discussions during the Russia-ASEAN Summit in Sochi," Putin said.
"I am confident that the further expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields serves the fundamental interests of the peoples of Russia and Brunei, and is in line with ensuring peace, stability and security in the Asia-Pacific region," Putin added.
In ending the message, the Russian president wished the Sultan good health, happiness, prosperity and success.
In addition, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing will attend Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's 70th birthday celebration as the Singapore government's representatives, the city-state's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Tuesday.
The statement also said that Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and several other high-ranking officials have written to congratulate the Sultan on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
