PM Wong Consults Indonesia on Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship

Prime Minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong will closely consult Indonesia on his country’s ASEAN Chairmanship agenda to strengthen the pillar of centrality for the regional organisation. “Next year, as Singapore prepares to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship, we will engage and consult closely with Indonesia to formulate our chairmanship agenda,” PM Wong said during a press statement following a bilateral Leaders’ Retreat with President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on Monday. This intensive consultation step was deliberately taken by the Singaporean government to align the regional strategic vision with Indonesia ahead of the leadership handover. “We agreed on the importance of ASEAN and ASEAN Centrality,” PM Wong explained, outlining the fundamental principle agreed upon by the two close neighbouring countries. In addition to discussing partnerships within the ASEAN framework, the two leaders also exchanged views on developments in the Middle East that impact global logistics chains. Wong stated that both countries have a shared interest in maintaining navigation rights, openness, and the security of international sea lines of communication, including in the Malacca Strait. In the economic field, Singapore affirmed its commitment to continue expanding investment in Indonesia, including through the development of the 1,000-hectare Kendal Industrial Park and the transformation of digital economic centres in Batam, Bintan, and Karimun (BBK). People-to-people cooperation is also being strengthened through the implementation of the Garuda School Programme and the opening of a direct flight route between Singapore and Pontianak. In the defence sector, Indonesia and Singapore are continuing to strengthen cooperation between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) through plans to develop joint training facilities in Baturaja and the Siabu Air Weapons Range.