Singapore (ANTARA News) - Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singapore`s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had been satisfied and positive with the state of the two countries` bilateral relations.

He said the two conveyed the view during a "leaders` retreat" meeting here on Monday.

The meeting was held annually between the two countries` heads of government to evaluate and review the two countries` relations. The last leaders` retreat meeting was held in Bogor, West Java, in March 2012.

"It is clear the two heads of government, the President and Singapore`s prime minister, have been satisfied and positive towards the state of bilateral relations between the two countries. The President has described Singapore as a close neighbor and stronger partner for Indonesia," he said.

Marty said the two also applauded the performance of the seven Working Groups that have been set up by the two countries, namely the Working Group on Batam, Bintan, Karimun, investment, agricultural business, tourism, manpower, air transportation and counter-terrorism they considered having made concrete achievements.

He said the two heads of government had agreed to instruct their ministers concerned to follow up and continue to consolidate and increase the cooperation that has been done.

He said in the future opportunities remained open for increasing further cooperation between the two countries.

"The opportunity is open for the cooperation to be further increased at a regional level especially with regard to meeting the ASEAN Community in 2015," he said. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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