Speech by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands

Your Majesty,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you here today as guest of honour. A visit from the head of state of Brunei Darussalam to our country is an exceptional event which we much appreciate. Furthermore, it is a rare occasion for me to be able to welcome a head of state whose reign has lasted as long as yours!

The relations between our countries have always been harmonious and friendly. The distance that separates Brunei and the Netherlands is less and less of an obstacle to those ties. On the contrary, contacts between our countries and our continents are becoming ever closer. One reason for this development is the need to confront issues which can only be resolved by cooperation between all the members of the world community.

These contacts between our countries increasingly take place within the framework of meetings, at official and political level, between the European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and in the Asia-Europe Meetings. Such consultations are useful and necessary. The common feature of ASEAN and the EU is that these regions, which in the past were characterised by deep internal conflicts, have now achieved an impressive level of cooperation and integration. The accession of the EU to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, to which our country attaches great importance, could further strengthen existing partnerships.

ASEAN has developed into a strong, stabilising factor in the region. Brunei plays a supporting role in this. Your country merits great respect for the significant part it played at the most recent ASEAN Summit in October two thousand and ten, as coordinator of the dialogue with the European Union. This year, Brunei will in fact be hosting one of the series of meetings between the EU and ASEAN.

Fate has entrusted your country with the management of an extensive tropical rainforest which is home to a number of rare species. Brunei is fully aware of the responsibility this entails. There is great respect all over the world for the efforts your government has made to preserve this natural area of global significance. Furthermore, your country was one of the initiators of the Heart of Borneo Programme, which established the principle of sustainable development for the future as well as prudent use of natural areas, and the necessary crossborder cooperation.

It is widely known that fossil fuels are an important pillar of Brunei's economy. They also play a role in the bilateral relations between our two countries. After all, Brunei and Shell have cooperated successfully for many decades in the exploitation of these fuels. But it is also widely known that your country is preparing for an era in which these fuels will become less important. In the future, therefore, the focus will turn to economic diversification. We in the Netherlands were interested to note what has been achieved in Brunei in the field of maritime infrastructure, port development, water management and agrotechnology.

In these areas too, cooperation between our countries is a possibility. Your visit to the Netherlands could be an important stimulus in this respect.

May I invite all present to raise their glasses in a toast to your health, Your Majesty, and to the happy continuation of the friendly relations between our countries.