Jakarta (IINA) – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Indonesian President Joko Widodo held official talks at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. King Salman will spend nine days in Indonesia during the historic visit of a Saudi monarch after a gap of 46 years.
During the meeting, President Widodo highlighted the deep-rooted bilateral relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia and stressed the keenness of his country on enhancing and promoting them in all fields to the best interest of the two countries and peoples. He also expressed Indonesia’s readiness to become a strategic partner of Saudi Arabia in the achievement of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
In turn, King Salman expressed the hope that the visit will contribute to further developing the existing relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in a way serving the interests of the two countries.
“Emanating from our common factors, there is a need to consolidate the ties of cooperation between us in all fields, King Salman said, citing both countries’ membership to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations and the Group of Twenty (G20).
King Salman said the challenges facing the world today, topped by the phenomenon of terrorism, necessitate that we deepen dialogue, and intensify efforts to confront those challenges. He expressed appreciation of Indonesia’s position in supporting Islamic solidarity and the just cause of Palestinian people, noting the Indonesian good offices to narrow the gap between the positions of the Islamic countries.
“Developing our relations on strong and firm bases, would positively contribute to tackling the regional and international crises, and enhance cooperation among Islamic countries based on good neighborhood, non-interference in the domestic affairs of other countries and solving of disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with the OIC Charter, UN Charter and principles of international law,” he added.
Earlier, the King and Widodo oversaw signing of 11 pacts between the governments of the two countries. These included a joint declaration, six memoranda of understanding, and several cooperation programs. Following the signing ceremony, Widodo decorated King Salman with the “Star of the Republic of Indonesia,” which is the highest medal of Indonesia in recognition of the King’s efforts in various fields. The King also attended a luncheon banquet hosted by Widodo.
King Salman arrived Wednesday in Indonesia in the second leg of his month-long, seven-nation tour of Asia that started last Sunday with a four-day visit to Malaysia.
