PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and Brunei will further their cooperation following the recent visit by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) to the oil rich nation.

       This comes following the working visit by Brunei's Foreign Affairs Minister II Datuk Seri Erywan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof to Malaysia on April 20 to 22.

       The visit will see Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and Erywan holding a meeting to discuss cooperation between the two nations following Ismail Sabri's recent visit to Brunei on Feb 14 and 15 this year.

       "The working visit is also in conjunction with Malaysia’s hosting of the first meeting of the Joint Malaysia-Brunei Darussalam Land Boundary Committee (Joint LBC)," Wisma Putra said in a statement issued on Thursday (April 21).

       The ministry noted that the Joint LBC signified another important milestone to the special relations shared between both countries.

       "Since both countries entered into cooperation on land boundary in 2012, the first Joint LBC is a reiteration of commitment by both sides in finalising the Malaysia-Brunei Darussalam land boundary," the ministry added.

       Apart from the meetings, Wisma Putra also said that Erywan is also scheduled to hold talks with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

       In 2021, Brunei was Malaysia's 30th largest trading partner and the 6th largest within Asean with total trade amounting to RM8.03bil (US$1.87bil).

       This was a substantial increase of 70.4%, compared to the recorded value in 2020.