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SINGAPORE : Singapore and Indonesia will hold a retreat in six months to review bilateral relations.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced this on Thursday after meeting visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who was recently re-elected for a second term in office.
President Yudhoyono and his wife were given a warm welcome when they arrived at the Istana on Thursday afternoon.
The first order of business was a call on President SR Nathan.
After that, Dr Yudhoyono met Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Speaking at a banquet for Dr Yudhoyono later, Mr Lee noted how relations between both sides have grown over the years.
"Bilateral relations have been good over the past five years. Singapore and Indonesia are cooperating on several fronts, including combating terrorism, managing environmental challenges and preventing the spread of infectious diseases," said PM Lee.
Dr Yudhoyono also re-affirmed Indonesia's commitment to Singapore, noting how both sides are inter-linked - economically, culturally and socially.
"I have brought with me some new faces in my Cabinet, but I assure you they are all friends of Singapore and ready to work with you to strengthen our important relations," said President Yudhoyono.
Singapore and Indonesia have some outstanding bilateral issues to iron out. These include the stalled talks over a Defence Co-operation Agreement and an extradition treaty.
Singapore has said it is ready to resume talks over both issues. But Indonesia has to determine when that will take place.
Dr Yudhoyono is in Singapore ahead of the APEC Leaders' Meeting this weekend. This is his first bilateral visit here since his inauguration last month which was also attended by PM Lee.
The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said these visits reflect the warm ties between both countries. - CNA /ls
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