26-4-2024 (SINGAPORE) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is set to embark on a significant diplomatic visit to Bogor on Monday (Apr 29), where he will attend the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) highlighted the upcoming meeting as an opportunity for both leaders to reflect on the substantial progress achieved in bilateral cooperation throughout their tenures. Of particular note are three agreements under the Expanded Framework, which recently came into effect, following their initial signing at the Leaders’ Retreat in Bintan in 2022. These agreements encompass air space management, defence, and extradition.
The collaborative efforts between Singapore and Indonesia have extended across various sectors, including defence, trade, investment, and financial cooperation. Notably, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, both nations have bolstered cooperation in healthcare, underscoring the strength of their strategic partnership.
During Monday’s rendezvous, Prime Minister Lee and President Widodo are poised to review advancements in pivotal areas such as defence, the digital economy, and sustainability. This gathering marks the seventh and final meeting between the two leaders amidst impending leadership transitions in both countries.
In Singapore, Prime Minister Lee will soon pass the premiership to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on May 15, while President Widodo will hand over leadership responsibilities to Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto in October, following his resounding victory in the presidential election earlier this year.
The Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat serves as an annual platform for nurturing bilateral relations, except for the hiatus during 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Singapore has remained Indonesia’s primary foreign investor since 2014, with foreign direct investment amounting to US$15.4 billion (S$20.9 billion) in 2023. Bilateral trade between the two nations reached US$69 billion in the same year.
Furthermore, Singapore and Indonesia stand as key sources of visitor arrivals for each other, with millions of tourists crossing borders annually. In 2023, Singapore welcomed 2.3 million Indonesian tourists, while Indonesia received 1.4 million Singaporean visitors.
Accompanying Prime Minister Lee on this significant diplomatic journey are eight members of the Cabinet, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing, Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, and Manpower Minister Tan See Leng.
Ahead of the retreat, Foreign Minister Balakrishnan, who arrived in Jakarta on Apr 23, emphasized the significance of the occasion, describing it as a testament to the remarkable achievements in bilateral relations over the past decade.
