Antara News·Indonesia·Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 05:30 AM UTC

Prabowo welcomes Singaporean FM Balakrishnan for closed-door talks

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Prisca Triferna V, Nabil Ihsan

Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Prabowo Subianto hosted Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at the president's retreat in Hambalang, Bogor District, West Java.

As disclosed by the Cabinet Secretariat through its social media, President Prabowo welcomed FM Balakrishnan for a closed-door meeting on Wednesday upon the latter's request.

Earlier on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said that Balakrishnan asked to meet Prabowo. "Yesterday morning, the Singaporean FM very suddenly visited Indonesia and later requested a time to meet Mr. President," Wijaya said in his remarks to reporters.

In response, President Prabowo is willing to spare a time to receive Minister Balakrishnan on Wednesday afternoon, he stated.

Wijaya said the President's willingness to receive Balakrishnan reflected his deep attention to neighboring countries' concerns.

The meeting is also described as a way to maintain good relations and strengthen communication with friendly countries, especially neighboring countries in Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir hosted Balakrishnan for high-level bilateral talks in Jakarta on Tuesday afternoon (Oct. 27).

On the occasion, the two ministers discussed various issues of mutual interest, especially forest and land fire, which caused thick haze that reached Singapore. Nasir told his Singaporean counterpart that Jakarta has made tackling the fires a top national priority.

President Prabowo has directed the intensification, better coordination, and sustenance of the national response and to use all available national resources to fight the fires, he added.

Indonesia understands its neighbors' concern, Nasir said as he appreciated offers of assistance from neighboring countries, including Singapore, to facilitate Indonesia in controlling the forest fire.

However, all offers will be considered by the relevant authorities in Indonesia in line with the needs on the ground, Nasir said.

Indonesia and Singapore have also agreed to form a task force to strengthen joint efforts to handle forest and land fires and their impacts.

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