S'pore deputy PM to visit Indonesia

S'pore deputy PM to visit Indonesia

SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan will make an official visit to Indonesia Monday through Wednesday in the highest level meeting between Singapore and Jakarta since President Megawati Sukarnoputri took office.

The trip underscores the close and friendly relations between the two countries, said a Defence Ministry statement on Sunday.

Tan, also the city-state's defence minister, will meet with Megawati, Vice President Hamzah Haz, Parliamentary Speaker Akbar Tanjung and Chief Security Minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Hosting the visit is Indonesian Defence Minister Matori Abdul Djalil.

The defence ties between the armed forces of the two countries over the past 30 years have been a "key pillar" of friendly relations, the statement said.

In June, the two navies celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Indonesia-Singapore Coordinated Patrol. -- DPA