"Firstly, the visit is in return of the Indonesian presidents multiple visits to Saudi Arabia. The president has probably made 25 visits to the Kingdom," he said at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Friday.
Kalla said with such a background, it was understandable that the King is bringing along a large number of delegations, comprising over a thousand people, since this visit by a Saudi King was happening after 47 years. The last visit by a Saudi king to Indonesia was in 1970.
"That is why they are doing it at such a massive scale," he explained.
King Salman will be visiting Indonesia from March 1 to 9, and after meeting President Joko Widodo in Jakarta, he will depart to Bali, where he will take some time off.
"The King wishes to have some rest in Indonesia and we will welcome him," he stated.
Furthermore, VP Kalla explained that the main agenda of the King's visit was to strengthen the economic partnership between the two countries outside of the oil and gas sector.
Reported by Azizah Fitriyanti/Uu.KR-ARC/KR-BSR/A014/B019)
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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