Marianne Kearney, Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab has reassured Asean members that the South-east Asia grouping is still central to Indonesia's foreign policy.

"Asean is the cornerstone of our foreign policy and as a founding father, it is impossible for us to leave Asean," Mr Alwi told journalists on Friday.

However, the Foreign Minister also told the foreign and local press that Indonesia planned to establish the controversial West Pacific Forum for cooperation between pacific countries currently excluded from the Asean grouping.

Mr Alwi hinted that one of the major purposes of forming a West Pacific Forum – comprising Australia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Indonesia – was to ensure diplomatic support outside Asean for Indonesia's territorial integrity.

He also hinted that the forum was intended to shore up support for Indonesia's hold over the restive province of Irian Jaya.

Mr Alwi also said that Indonesia's relationship with Singapore was improving even though Mr Abdurrahman had lashed out at Singapore late last year. Mr Abdurrahman was reportedly angered by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew's opposition to including East Timor and Papua New Guinea in Asean.

"In our 30-year relationship with Singapore, there are a lot of things that we can tidy up, but we will do it quietly. We fully realise that neighbours are very important for us," the minister said.

President Abdurrahman will visit Singapore tomorrow to officiate the importing of natural gas imports from Indonesia's West Natuna Seafields.

Mr Alwi also suggested the differences between the two countries had been exaggerated by media reports. "It is better if we speak like husband and wife, certainly behind closed doors. It is not necessary to speak outside. The matters that we discuss in private, we will be discussing in a better manner, until afterwards when we emerge," then it won't be distorted, the daily Kompas reported.