The Singaporean Embassy showcased the island state’s various icons from ice cream and jerky meat, to its national airline in celebrating its National Day on Tuesday evening.

Guests were pampered with food and beverage products from Singaporean companies, such as ice cream from Island Creamery, Bee Cheng Hiang’s jerky meat, Ming Fa’s noodle soups and Gryphon Tea’s tea. The country’s flag carrier Singapore Airlines opened a photo booth, where guests could strike a pose with props.

This year’s celebration took the theme “We Are Singapore”, Singaporean Ambassador to Indonesia Anil Kumar Nayar said in his remarks.

The theme reminded Singaporeans “of what binds us as people, in facing challenges and taking the opportunities that lie ahead”.

“And why we must continue to do so together regardless of race, language or religion.”

Singapore declared its independence on Aug. 9, 1965, after separating from Malaysia.

In keeping with the theme, the embassy installed large panels showing traditional food stalls in Singapore. There was also a photo booth with a background that Nayar described as an “old-school dragon playground built in the 1970s, which many Singaporeans remember fondly”.

The celebration had Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto, Home Ministry Tjahjo Kumolo, Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Sofyan Djalil, and Deputy Foreign Minister M. Fachir as guests of honor.

“As a young country, Singapore values the good relations that we have with all our friends and partners, including a close neighbor such as Indonesia,” Nayar said.

Singapore and Indonesia, which commemorated 50 years of diplomatic ties in 2017, had established “excellent relations” particularly through trade and investment cooperation, he added.

The cooperation included the joint development of Kendal Industrial Park in Semarang, Central Java, and Nongsa digital sector in Batam, Riau Islands.

“We are also working together on new projects in the fields of vocational skills upgrading, tourism cooperation and e-government,” Nayar said.

He added that both countries had also deepened cooperation in defense and security matters, as well as environmental cooperation.

He said that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was scheduled to meet President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in Bali in October during a leaders’ retreat.

“This will be an opportunity to follow up on key economic, education and people-to-people projects that both leaders agreed last year, as well as exploring new areas of partnership where Singapore and Indonesia can work together,” he added.

Airlangga echoed Nayar’s view, saying that the leaders’ retreat would be held along with the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering, back-to-back with the IMF-World Bank Annual Meeting.

“Being host of these three important events consecutively is the evidence of our strong commitment to maintaining robust economic growth in the region,” he said.

“This also demonstrates how we rely on bilateral cooperation with Singapore and other neighboring countries as well as collaboration with global financial institutions,” Airlangga continued.

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