Singapore, Indonesia leaders hope to strengthen excellent ties in new era of cooperation: PM Wong (UAT 3)

With relations between Singapore and Indonesia in excellent shape, the leaders of both countries intend to chart even stronger ties in a new era of cooperation, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on June 16.

Speaking at a press conference with Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto, PM Wong said the successful implementation of three landmark agreements between the two neighbours is testament to Singapore and Indonesia’s ability to work through complicated issues with respect and trust for each other.

He added that both parties are committed to creating new opportunities for growth.

Among the promising new areas of bilateral cooperation is the green economy, said PM Wong. The two leaders witnessed a ceremony to mark pacts on renewable energy and sustainability projects, after their press conference.

President Prabowo was in Singapore for a one-day state visit, after arriving on the evening of June 15.

He also attended a Leaders’ Retreat with PM Wong. This was the highest-level meeting between the two countries and the first for both recently inaugurated heads of government.

PM Wong said: “The retreat is a platform that we convene only with our two closest neighbours. It reflects the comfort and trust that we have with each other at the highest levels, and our shared commitment to work together in the spirit of mutual respect.”

Singapore also has an annual Leaders’ Retreat with Malaysia.

President Prabowo said the leaders had a very productive and successful retreat, emerging from their meeting with 19 deliverables across many sectors of cooperation.

“Now, the ministers and the officials will start their hard work to implement all the strategic decisions that we have achieved,” he said.

In his remarks, PM Wong said the expanded framework agreements between the two countries serve as a foundation for Singapore and Indonesia’s collaboration in defence, airspace management and law enforcement.

The landmark pacts, inked in January 2022 during the Leaders’ Retreat between then PM Lee Hsien Loong and then Indonesian President Joko Widodo, entered into force in 2024.

On defence, PM Wong noted that the two armed forces are exploring new possibilities for military cooperation while continuing to train together.

On airspace, he noted that the Flight Information Region Agreement has been successfully implemented, and Indonesian personnel are now stationed in the city-state.

“We welcome them, and they are working smoothly with the Civil Aviation Authority Singapore to ensure safe and efficient traffic at air traffic management,” he said.

PM Wong also noted that the first case since the mutual extradition treaty entered force was now before the Singapore courts, and this was made possible through close collaboration between the legal and law enforcement agencies of both sides.

In February, Indonesia formally requested the extradition of Indonesian businessman Paulus Tannos, who was arrested in Singapore over corruption.

Given the outsized impact that climate change will have on small island and archipelagic states like Singapore and Indonesia, the two countries will work to turn their vulnerabilities into opportunities, he added.

On June 13, the two countries signed three memorandums of understanding on cross-border electricity trade, carbon capture and storage, and the sustainable industrial zone.

Besides these agreements, PM Wong and President Prabowo witnessed on June 16 the exchange of an agreement on food safety and agriculture technology between Singapore’s Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, and Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture.

“We know that food security is a key priority area for Indonesia, and Singapore will support this, including through a young farmers development programme to exchange best practices on agritech solutions,” said PM Wong.

“All in all, there are many projects which Indonesia and Singapore are undertaking together. These are possible because of the enduring friendship between our countries and between Singaporeans and Indonesians,” he added.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of facilitating more exchanges between the people of their countries, and improvements in connectivity will enable such exchanges. PM Wong said the two leaders welcomed newly launched flights from Singapore to Padang and to Kertajati in West Java.

They also hailed the robust economic ties between the two countries.

In 2024, foreign direct investment from Singapore to Indonesia amounted to US$20.1 billion (S$25.7 billion), Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. This was one-third of Indonesia’s realised foreign investments that year, noted PM Wong.

At the press conference, Mr Prabowo said Indonesia wants to continue strengthening this partnership. Singapore has also initiated many successful policies that Indonesia is replicating, such as in public housing and its new sovereign wealth fund.

“That’s the highest form of respect, right? If you are imitated, that means you must be doing something good,” he said.

He added that Indonesia plans to open more medical and nursing colleges, an area where Singapore can share its experience in manpower development.

The two leaders agreed there is great potential to cooperate on skilled caregiving, said Mr Prabowo. 

They also discussed regional and global matters, expressing deep concern over the situation in Gaza and the escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict.

“We emphasise the importance of a peaceful solution and negotiation, and we call for an immediate ceasefire,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Mr Prabowo said it is in Indonesia’s “strategic political design” to foster the best cooperation and collaboration with Singapore, one of its closest neighbours and partners.

“For more than five decades, both of us have succeeded in maintaining a zone of regional peace, prosperity and mutual support,” he said.

“I’m very confident that this bilateral relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength, with more trust and confidence in each other, as the years will prove.”

Following the press conference, the two leaders and their ministers witnessed a milestone ceremony to mark the decarbonisation efforts of both countries and to spur more clean energy projects.

Earlier in the morning, Mr Prabowo received a ceremonial welcome at Parliament House and called on President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

President Tharman also hosted a state banquet in his honour.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.

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