His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to send a congratulatory message to Dmitry Medvedev, President of the Russian Federation, on the occasion of his appointment as the new President of the Russian Federation.

In the message, His Majesty wished Medvedev much success and looked forward to strengthening the cooperation between the two countries.

In a separate message to Vladimir Putin, His Majesty congratulated him on the occasion of Putin's appointment as the new Prime Minister of the Russian Federation.

His Majesty extended his best wishes to Putin on the conclusion of his term as President and thanked him for efforts in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the Russian Federation, bilaterally and as international and regional partners.

Medvedev took his oath of office as the new President of the Russian Federation in the Kremlin's golden-hued Andreyevsky Hall Wednesday. Two hours after becoming president, he nominated Putin to be Prime Minister, which was confirmed by the State Duma yesterday. - Borneo Bulletin (9th May 2008)