Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended the state funeral of former prime minister of Japan Shinzo Abe at Nippon Budokan, Tokyo in Japan on Tuesday.

Her Royal Highness attended on behalf of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Later in the evening, Her Royal Highness attended the greeting occasion with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Hirokazu Matsuno, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoshimasa Hayashi and Akie Abe, the spouse of late Shinzo Abe, which was held at Akasaka Palace. Her Royal Highness conveyed her condolences on behalf of the Government of His Majesty to Fumio Kishida and Akie Abe on the passing of former prime minister Shinzo Abe on July 8, 2022.

Fumio Kishida expressed the Japanese government’s appreciation to Her Royal Highness for attending the state funeral.

Brunei Darussalam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1984. Since then, the two countries have enjoyed a warm friendship and close bilateral ties.

Both countries have also continued to work closely in various areas of mutual benefit, including trade, energy, education and connectivity.

Accompanying Her Royal Highness was Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin