JAKARTA – High-level communication between Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has set the “political commitment on both sides to do what is necessary”, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Oct 28, as the two neighbours seek to manage differences over energy supplies and other bilateral issues.
Speaking to reporters in Jakarta after meeting Prabowo earlier in the day, Balakrishnan said his visit had involved “good conversations, honest conversations, sincere conversations” and produced constructive approaches, some of which were already being implemented.
“I’m not at liberty to discuss the details,” he said when asked about his meeting with Prabowo.
“But first, let me give you the assurance that communication has occurred at the highest level between my Prime Minister and with President Prabowo,” he said.
He added that both sides now had to implement their plans and “execute that commitment”.
The meeting came as the two neighbours grappled with questions over gas supplies and plans for cross-border electricity exports, while stepping up cooperation to tackle forest and land fires in Indonesia that have sent thick haze across parts of the region and prompted calls for stronger action to prevent the problem from recurring.
Indonesian Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said earlier on Oct 28 that Balakrishnan had requested an audience with Prabowo. The Presidential Secretariat also said Prabowo remained committed to maintaining good relations and strengthening communication with neighbouring countries.
Managing differences with ‘cool heads’
Balakrishnan said Singapore and Indonesia, as permanent neighbours, would always be interdependent and face common challenges, including the haze and pandemics.
He acknowledged that differences in priorities and approaches were inevitable, sometimes accompanied by political disagreements. “But precisely at a moment like this, it’s important for cool heads to prevail,” he said, stressing the need for direct, honest and constructive conversations.
After arriving in Jakarta on Oct 27 for a three-day visit, Balakrishnan held his first official talks with Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir, who took office on Oct 1. Both ministers reaffirmed the strength of bilateral relations and stressed the importance of open dialogue and mutual respect.
“We want Indonesia to succeed, and we want this because our futures are intertwined. Singapore’s success also depends on a prosperous, stable, peaceful Indonesia,” he said during his Oct 27 talks.
The two ministers also agreed on Oct 27 to establish a joint task force to hold companies accountable for forest and land fires that cause transboundary haze, as well as a hotline at the ministerial and senior official levels to strengthen communication.
Balakrishnan said the haze problem had persisted in South-east Asia for almost three decades, calling it “far too long” and stressing the need to find solutions.
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