Global Courant
JAKARTA – Indonesian President Joko Widodo will visit Singapore on Wednesday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Tuesday that Mr Widodo will be accompanied by some members of his cabinet.
“Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mrs. Lee will receive President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo for lunch,” the ministry said.
“President Joko Widodo will deliver a special speech during Ecosperity Week, Temasek’s annual sustainability event.”
Held Tuesday through Thursday at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Center, the event will see world leaders, academics and industry leaders discuss ways to accelerate the green transition, halt climate change and work together to mitigate its effects.
Members of Mr Widodo’s cabinet who are in Singapore include Luhut Pandjaitan, the archipelago’s coordinating minister of Maritime Affairs and Investment, who took part in a panel discussion at the event on Tuesday, as well as Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Indonesia’s ambassador to Singapore, Suryo Pratomo, said Ms Retno was in town to conduct inspections and prepare for Mr Widodo’s presentation.
The Straits Times understands that Mr. Widodo will speak about climate change challenges in his country and about Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital in East Kalimantan.
His visit comes after more than 130 Singapore government officials and businessmen visited the site on a three-day trip last week to explore opportunities in the new capital.
The 2,561 square kilometer project, about three times the size of Singapore, was announced three years ago by Mr. Widodo.
MFA said Mr Widodo last visited Singapore in March for the Singapore-Indonesian leadership retreat.
Mr Widodo and Ms Iriana also hosted Prime Minister Lee and Ms Lee at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, a town on the western tip of the Indonesian island of Flores, in May.
