Hamid Ansari visits historic mosque in Brunei

BANDAR SERI BEGWAN: Vice President Hamid Ansari today paid a visit to the historic Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque here in Brunei's capital.

He stayed at the mosque for about 15 minutes during which he made a tour, watched a video and exchanged pleasantries with the Imam.

The mosque, named after the father of current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, was built in 1958. Sultan Saifuddien is regarded as the architect of modern Brunei.

The mosque, besides holding religious functions, has also hosted several ceremonies related to the royal Brunei family.

Islam is the official religion of Brunei and according to the country's 2011 census, 82 per cent of the population is Muslim, seven per cent Hindus and three per cent Christians.

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque is said to be one of the most beautiful mosques in the Southeast Asian region.

Ansari arrived here yesterday to hold talks with Brunei's top leadership on key issues like stepping up trade and investment during his three-day visit, the first high-level trip from India since the establishment of diplomatic relations in May 1984.

Ansari, who arrived here on the first leg of his five-day, two-nation visit to Brunei Darussalam and Thailand, was received at the Brunei International Airport by Finance Minister Abdul Rehman.