TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto welcomed Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the Merdeka Palace on Monday, July 6, as the two leaders opened the annual Indonesia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat.
Wong arrived at the Indonesian presidential palace at around 11:00 a.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB). Prabowo was already waiting on the steps of the palace when the Singaporean leader's motorcade entered the compound. The two leaders greeted each other with a handshake after Wong stepped out of his vehicle.
Wong's convoy was escorted by a presidential motorcycle escort unit. However, unlike the state receptions typically held for visiting heads of state or government, the welcoming ceremony did not include the customary mounted cavalry escort.
The reception was also more modest than usual. There were no traditional dance performances or schoolchildren lining the palace grounds to welcome the visiting leader, while the national anthems were played without the ceremonial cannon salute that often accompanies official state visits.
Following the welcoming ceremony, Prabowo and Wong introduced members of their respective delegations before beginning bilateral talks.
Joining Prabowo were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, Minister of Investment and Downstream Industries Rosan Roeslani, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi, Foreign Minister Sugiono, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
The bilateral meeting was held behind closed doors. The Indonesian and Singaporean delegations were also scheduled to attend a working lunch at the palace following the talks.
Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said the meeting is part of the annual high-level dialogue between the leaders of Indonesia and Singapore.
"This is the annual meeting between the President of Indonesia and the Prime Minister of Singapore," Teddy told reporters on Monday.
He said Prabowo and Wong are expected to sign 26 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) covering various areas of bilateral cooperation, although he did not disclose details of the agreements.
"There will be 26 agreements or MoUs signed," Teddy said.
Monday's summit marks the second Indonesia-Singapore Leaders' Retreat attended by Prabowo and Wong. The inaugural retreat between the two leaders was held in Singapore in 2025, shortly after Wong took office as Singapore's prime minister.
During his visit to Jakarta, Wong is accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
The delegation also includes Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli and Minister for Manpower and Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng.
The annual Leaders' Retreat is the highest-level bilateral forum between Indonesia and Singapore, providing an opportunity for both governments to strengthen strategic cooperation and review progress across a wide range of sectors, including the economy, defense, investment, energy, and regional affairs.
Read: Prabowo, Singapore PM Set to Sign 26 MoUs in Jakarta
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