Indonesia, Singapore Committed to Strengthening Cooperation

President Jokowi holds a bilateral meeting with President Halimah Yacob in the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Tuesday (4/2). Photo by: Dindha Moerti /PR.

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo praised the visit of Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and stated that the visit will strengthen cooperation between Indonesia and Singapore.

“As Minister of State for Community Development and Sports in 2012, Mrs. Halimah inaugurated 697 Indonesian domestic workers who graduated from secondary education at Indonesian schools in Singapore,” President Jokowi said in his remarks before a business meeting in Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, Monday (4/2).

President Jokowi also applauded President Halimah’s concern about the issues of education and women.

“Indonesia and Singapore are close neighbors, and we only have one option which is to have good relations and mutual benefits. And it is my commitment to continue to strengthen cooperation with Singapore,” the President said.

In the meantime, President Halimah Yacob extended her appreciation to Indonesia on her first official visit to the country. “Of course I have visited Indonesia several times before. I have also visited Yogya as a tourist,” President Halimah said.

Singapore and Indonesia, she added, have a very good relationship in terms of economic, cultural, inter-community, and security. “So, I see this visit will strengthen the relations between the two countries,” President Halimah said.

Also present during the event were Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani, and Minister of Education and Culture Nadiem Makarim. (RSF/EN)

Translated by: Ridwan Ibadurrohman
Reviewed by: Lulu Wuliarti