President Prabowo, President Tharman Highlight Close Bilateral Ties at State Banquet

President Prabowo attends a state banquet hosted by Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Monday (06/16). (Photo by: BPMI of Presidential Secretariat)

During his first state visit to Singapore, President Prabowo Subianto attended a state banquet hosted by Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Monday (06/16).

President Prabowo expressed deep appreciation for the warm welcome extended by the Singaporean Government and its people. The President then recalled how he spent his youth in Singapore.

“As you may be aware, I am not a newcomer to Singapore. As a young man, I grew up in Singapore. So, I know the early days of Singapore. I was in Singapore when Singapore was still a British colony,” President Prabowo said.

President Prabowo highlighted that the long-standing ties between the two countries are continuously strengthened through collaboration. He added that the close cooperation between neighboring countries is not only a strategic need but also aligned with mutual national interests.

“We do have differences in backgrounds. We have issues that we must resolve. But, the fact of the geopolitics of the world today emphasizes that only collaboration and partnership can benefit neighbors,” he added.

President Prabowo also underscored ASEAN’s success in promoting peace and prosperity in the region for over five decades. On economic ties, the President expressed appreciation for Singapore’s growing investment in Indonesia, an increase of 50 percent in the last two years.

“This is a show of confidence in Indonesia. And, I’d like to reiterate that we value this partnership,” he said.

President Prabowo also mentioned Singapore’s Orchid Diplomacy and shared his experience naming a new orchid hybrid after his late mother. He stated that Singapore’s unique orchid diplomacy is an elegant tradition and a gesture rich in emotional meaning and deep appreciation.

“We are here because of our mothers. So, I nominated her name. And now, it’s official. There is a new orchid hybrid with the name of my mother,” he remarked.  (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (FI/MUR)