PHNOM PENH - The leaders of Singapore and Indonesia have reaffirmed their shared priorities in promoting economic recovery and human capital development.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s press secretary, Ms Chang Li Lin, said on Thursday that PM Lee and Indonesian President Joko Widodo met on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st Asean summits in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.
The two summits are usually held separately – one earlier in the year and a second meeting later in the year – but this year, both were held on the same day.
During the meeting on Thursday, both leaders also reaffirmed the progress made in bilateral sustainability initiatives.
“They also discussed regional developments, including Asean’s next steps in response to the developments in Myanmar,” said Ms Chang.
PM Lee and Mr Widodo have worked closely together bilaterally and in Asean for many years now, and have built up a good personal relationship, she said.
Indonesia is hosting the Group of 20 (G-20) summit next week in Bali, and Ms Chang said that PM Lee looks forward to contributing to the discussions.
A statement from Indonesia’s Presidential Secretariat on Thursday said that at the meeting, the two leaders agreed to hold a leaders’ retreat in the first quarter of next year, with Singapore as the host.
The statement quoted Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi as saying that the two leaders discussed several issues, including the G-20, the situation in Myanmar, and plans for the leaders’ retreat next year.
Ms Chang said that PM Lee also conveyed Singapore’s support for Indonesia’s upcoming Asean chairmanship in 2023, and added that the Republic will work closely with Indonesia on realising its chairmanship objectives.
Indonesia will take over the bloc’s chairmanship from Cambodia at the closing ceremony of the 40th and 41st Asean summits and related meetings.
Earlier on Thursday, Mr Widodo had said that his country wants to contribute to building a strong Asean that can face increasingly complex future challenges.
In a separate statement after Mr Widodo met leaders and representatives from Asean Parliaments, he called on member states to work together to strengthen the unity and centrality of Asean.
Asean centrality is a concept that refers to the regional grouping being in the driver’s seat and shaping key decisions affecting South-east Asia, instead of having the region’s fortunes determined by external parties.
