The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) today, Tuesday (25/1/22) has a meeting agenda with the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong in Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.
Based on an official statement from the Presidential Secretariat, Jokowi and Singapore’s PM will chair the first bilateral meeting since 2019 between the two countries and witness the signing and exchange of three Memorandums of Understanding.
The spokesman for the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Teuku Faizasyah, explained, “The meeting will discuss investment cooperation, defense, extradition agreements, and the Flight Information Region (FIR).”
The agreements
The good news is that Indonesia has succeeded in taking over the air control room (FIR) in Natuna waters after being controlled by Singapore for a long time. This news was confirmed by the Director-General of Civil Aviation at the Ministry of Transportation, Novie Riyanto.
Furthermore, the meeting between Jokowi and the Singaporean PM will also agree on the boundaries of the Jakarta and Singapore FIR, the extradition agreement for fugitives, as well as a joint statement between the defense ministers of the two countries regarding the 2007 Defense Cooperation Agreement and Arrangements for the Implementation of Military Training Areas.
The two leaders will witness firsthand the signing of the three agreements that will take effect simultaneously above. After that, they will sign a number of agreements (MoU).
Before heading to the Riau Islands, President Jokowi made a working visit to South Sumatra Province yesterday, (24/1). After that, the presidential entourage took off from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport, Palembang City, at around 18.00 WIB, Monday (24/1/2022) using the Indonesia-1 Presidential Aircraft.
Meanwhile, Singaporean PM Lee will be accompanied by Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Teo Chee Hean, Minister of Defense Ng Eng Hen, Minister of Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister of Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam, Minister of Transport S Iswaran, and Minister of Manpower and Tan See Leng Industrial Trade.
Meanwhile, Jokowi, upon arrival at Raja Haji Fisabillah Airport, Tanjung Pinang City, was greeted by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi, Governor of the Riau Islands Ansar Ahmad, Commander of the Joint Defense Area Command One (Pangkogabwilhan I) Vice Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali, Pangdam I/Bukit Barisan Major General TNI Hassanudin, Riau Islands Police Chief Inspector General Pol. Aris Budiman Bulo, Danlantamal IV TNI First Admiral Dwika Tjahja Setiawan, and Danlanud Raja Haji Fisabilillah Colonel Pnb. Andi Wijanarko.
