SINGAPORE, 10 March 2026 – Philippine Ambassador to Singapore, H.E. Medardo G. Macaraig, received a courtesy call from the new Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Singapore, H.E. Dr. Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan, at the Philippine Embassy today, 10 March 2026.

Ambassador Pandjaitan assumed his duties as the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Republic of Singapore in January 2026, following the presentation of his credentials to President Tharman Shanmugaratman on 26 January. Prior to this appointment, he served as Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence for Strategic Environment from 2019 to 2024.

During the meeting, the two Ambassadors exchanged views on their respective experiences as seasoned civil servants and diplomats, reflecting on their careers in public service and the evolving responsibilities of diplomatic missions in today’s complex international environment. They likewise discussed current regional and international developments, including issues of mutual interest within ASEAN and the broader Indo-Pacific.

Both Ambassador Macaraig and Ambassador Pandjaitan expressed confidence that the enduring bilateral relations between the Philippines and Indonesia will continue to expand through sustained dialogue, cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.

The Philippines and Indonesia have a longstanding friendship. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 24 November 1949, and have since developed into a stable and cooperative partnership grounded in shared history, geographic proximity, and common aspirations for peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia. The Philippines and Indonesia are also among the founding members of ASEAN when it was established in 1967, and continue to work closely together in advancing ASEAN centrality and regional cooperation. (END)