August 17, 2025 | 11:13 am
President of Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan have written a letter to their colleagues in Indonesia to convey their congratulations on the 80th Independence Day which falls on Sunday, August 17, 2025.
In the letter addressed to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Foreign Minister Sugiono, which was conveyed to the media by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they appreciate the country's progress since its independence in 1945 and express hope for ongoing cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
They also express gratitude to their Indonesian counterparts for their presence at Singapore's 60th National Day Parade (NDP) on August 9, and emphasize that both countries are commemorating historic days this year.
President Tharman, in his letter to Mr. Prabowo, said that "Indonesia's transformation, progress, and spirit of togetherness since independence in 1945 have become an inspiring story".
"The country continues to achieve strong economic growth, lift the welfare of its people, and is recognized as a respected voice in the global community," Tharman wrote as quoted by CNA.
"Your aspirations for harmony and mutual respect, are indeed values embraced by the people of Singapore."
Tharman also highlights the longstanding relationship between Singapore and Indonesia, and added that Prabowo's presence at NDP Singapore "reflects the close friendship and shared heritage of our two nations".
Wong, in his letter to Mr. Prabowo, said that Indonesia has established itself as a "respected, reliable, and constructive player in ASEAN and on the international stage".
He added that under Prabowo's leadership, Indonesia has "taken bold steps to elevate the welfare of its people by strengthening food and energy security, developing human resources, and safeguarding the nation's economic interests".
Wong, who also serves as Singapore's Finance Minister, also thanked Mr. Prabowo for his presence at NDP Singapore shortly after a state visit and the Singapore-Indonesia Leaders' Retreat in June.
"This is a valuable opportunity to reaffirm our shared strategic vision for bilateral relations and to chart the way forward for further collaboration in areas such as trade and investment, defense, energy, and food security," Wong said.
Dr. Balakrishnan, conveying Singapore's congratulations to Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono, described the country as a "beacon of progress on the global stage".
He also said that "good progress" is being made in the bilateral initiatives discussed between Prabowo and Wong at the Leaders' Retreat.
Dr. Balakrishnan also expressed his appreciation for strong cooperation with Sugiono in ASEAN and other international forums, and extended an invitation to his counterpart for an official visit to Singapore.
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