Singapore, Indonesia vow to strengthen bilateral ties

Singapore and Indonesia vowed to strengthen bilateral ties during Indonesia President Joko Widodo's first official visit to the city-state on Tuesday.

The two sides signed three agreements, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on electronic government cooperation to facilitate the sharing of experiences and knowledge on the development of electronic government, an MOU on youth and sports cooperation to strengthen collaboration on youth and sports development as well as a strategic cooperation agreement to enhance economic cooperation between the two business chambers.

The three agreements highlighted "the breadth and depth of the close cooperation which Singapore and Indonesia have enjoyed over many years," said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore.

"They also underscore the inter-connected nature of the relationship, and the efforts of both governments to bring about mutual benefits for the people of Singapore and Indonesia."

This is Widodo's first official visit to Singapore since he took office last October. The Indonesia president was officially welcomed earlier on Tuesday at the Istana, where he called on Singapore's President Tony Tan Keng Yam.

He later met with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and they told media that they have agreed to enhance economic collaboration between the two countries.

"We agreed to work together to make it even more attractive, so that Singapore companies can take advantage of opportunities in Indonesia," said Lee.

The two have also agreed to cooperate on security, as both countries are facing the threat of extremism and the ISIS militant group. Therefore, the two have agreed to enhance intelligence exchanges between its security agencies.

During his visit, Widodo and his wife Iriana Joko Widodo will also attend an orchid-naming ceremony at the Singapore Botanical Gardens where an orchid, Dendrobium Iriana Jokowi, will be named after them. Endi