Debated in Parliament on 20 Jan 2015.
Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs with a new President and appointed leadership in Indonesia, whether there will be changes in the bilateral relations between Singapore and Indonesia as well as multilaterally in ASEAN.
Singapore’s relations with Indonesia have always been broad-based and multifaceted. This is underpinned by mutual respect and "win-win" cooperation in various fields, such as the economy, education, environment, health and defence. Our ties at the leadership level are excellent and are buttressed by strong people-to-people links.
We have also stood together in solidarity during times of crises. For instance, we just commemorated the 10th anniversary of the tsunami that devastated Aceh on 26 December 2004. The Singapore Armed Forces worked closely with the Indonesian military to help the victims and their families in the aftermath of the disaster. During the recent crash of AirAsia flight QZ 8501, Singapore supported the search and locate and subsequent recovery efforts led by Indonesia. Our agencies operated closely with their Indonesian counterparts, leveraging on the close ties forged over many years.
Similarly, we have cooperated closely in international and regional forums. We have worked well together to promote Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) centrality, stability and prosperity. When there are outstanding or difficult issues, we have been able to discuss them in a frank and constructive manner in order to find a way forward. Ultimately, we understand that, as neighbours and regional partners, there is much to be gained in strengthening the relationship between our two countries. I am confident that this will continue to be the case going forward.
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited Jakarta to attend Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s inauguration on 20 October 2014 and hosted a breakfast for the latter in Singapore on 22 November 2014. In their discussions, Prime Minister Lee and President Joko committed to maintain the strong cooperation between our countries. Prime Minister Lee expressed Singapore’s willingness to work closely with President Joko’s Administration in areas where there are complementarities.
I also met my foreign affairs counterpart Ms Retno Marsudi on a number of occasions recently. She visited Singapore for her introductory visit on 26 November 2014 and I visited Jakarta in December 2014 to have discussions with her and other Indonesian leaders. Similarly, many of our Ministers and officials have good ties with their counterparts in President Joko’s Administration and are committed to advancing the relationship.
Indonesia is a key player internationally and regionally, especially within ASEAN. Indonesia’s support will be crucial for the success of the ASEAN Community in 2015 and beyond. As the region’s largest economy, Indonesia’s continued stability and development are vital to us all. I am confident that Indonesia will continue to play a constructive role in the region. We look forward to maintaining our close cooperation with Indonesia in ASEAN and other forums.
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