Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan underscored the importance of “high-level direct communication” between governments in resolving transboundary issues, including the haze, during a three-day official visit to Jakarta.

“You can't conduct diplomacy just by the phone or through the media, with all due respect. There is a need for face-to-face direct explanation, conveying concerns, and also looking for solutions,” he said, according to Channel News Asia.

Acknowledging that issues such as the haze, which affects people in both Indonesia and Singapore, inevitably draw political involvement, Balakrishnan said...

Acknowledging that issues such as the haze, which affects people in both Indonesia and Singapore, inevitably draw political involvement, Balakrishnan said both sides must remain focused on finding common ground.