Leaders say gap on outstanding issues narrowed

A RECENT effort to draw more investments to boost the growth of the Riau Islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun was discussed yesterday by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and visiting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

In a 'four-eye' meeting, they emphasised the need to continue to work together on special economic zones (SEZs) on the islands to achieve a successful project as a model for Indonesia.

Singapore inked a pact with Indonesia in June to help set up the SEZs.

So far, Indonesia has indicated that it is interested in establishing up to eight SEZs in other locations throughout the archipelago, but details are still pending on these other sites.

This is the second meeting in a month between Mr Lee and Mr Yudhoyono.

They last met on Aug 6 when the Indonesian leader was in Singapore for a two-day working visit, during which he had a lunch talk with businessmen and met Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew.

Yesterday, Mr Yudhoyono flew into Singapore again to attend the 6th Forbes Global CEO Conference, where he delivered a luncheon speech to more than 400 business and political leaders.

After the talk, he met Mr Lee at the Istana, where they touched on a range of issues similar to those they discussed at their previous meeting last month.

A short statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that the leaders were briefed on the progress on the parallel negotiations for a series of agreements on an extradition treaty, defence cooperation and counter-terrorism cooperation.

Both leaders agreed that the negotiating teams have made 'significant progress in the recent months, and that outstanding issues have narrowed'.

They have asked officials to continue with negotiations to bridge the gaps and to give an update when they meet in Hanoi in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit.