King Salman, Indonesian Islamic Figures Discuss Peace

Jakarta, (Antara) - Visiting Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and a number of Indonesian Muslim figures together with President Joko Widodo have discussed peace-building efforts.

"Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are bound by the Islamic faith and the king appealed for the upholding of tolerance, prevention of  extremism and terrorism and building solidarity," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said here, Thursday.

There were 36 Muslim figures who met King Salman at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta with President Joko Widodo, that day among others, General Chairman of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Nasir; Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama, Said Aqil Siradj; Chairman of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council, Din Syamsuddin; Head of Ponorogo Gontor Islamic Boarding School, Hasan Abdullah Sahal; Head of Islamic Boarding School of Walisongo Asembagus Situbondo, Kholil As'ad and religious figures, Arifin Ilham and Yusuf Mansur.

In a meeting held for about 45 minutes, the figures talked about efforts to promote peace and tolerance in Indonesia.

"Essentially, all countries are facing the danger of extremism and terrorism. Therefore, the issue of tolerance was discussed by the king and the Indonesian Islamic figures," the Foreign Minister said.

At the meeting, the figures asked the King for strengthening cooperation particularly in the fields of education, research and Arabic training for Indonesians.

King Salman arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday (March 1). After the visit in Jakarta, the King and his 1,500 entourage will be visiting Bali on March 4, 2017.

In the sidelines of his visit in Indonesia, the King of Saudi Arabia will visit Brunei Darussalam on Saturday (March 4) and then back to Bali.

King Salman and President Joko Widodo have witnessed the signing of ten memorandum of understanding in the fields of culture, health, improving the status of bilateral mechanisms, Islamic activities and da'awah (preaching of Islam) , education, science and technology, marine and fisheries, the handling of cross-border crimes, air services, small and medium enterprises, and trade.(*)