Keir Starmer praised the ‘strong relationship’ between the UK and Brunei as he met Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at Downing Street.

The UK prime minister greeted the Sultan of Brunei at the door of No 10 and then held a meeting with him in the White Room.

Starmer praised the ‘strong relationship’ between the two countries in remarks at the start of the meeting, and said he and the sultan would talk about the renewal of the garrison agreement as well as wider issues of trade and security.

The UK has a permanent army garrison in Brunei under a deal that is renewed every five years and now up for renegotiation.

Brunei is a member of the Indo-Pacific trade bloc Britain became a member of on Sunday.

UK officials have said that joining the Comprehensive & Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, known as CPTPP, could boost the economy by as much as £2 billion a year compared with levels of GDP projected for 2040 without the deal.

By Helen Corbett, PA Political Correspondent

Press Association: News

source: PA

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