"King Salman from the beginning wanted to hear inputs from Muslim figures, and there has been no dialogue because the King needs a lot of rest. But the point is, the King is very happy to meet the Islamic figures and listen to the inputs," Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said here, Thursday.
Before meeting the Islamic figures King Salman delivered a speech in the House of Representatives and visited the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta.
"The meeting with the Islamic figures was led by the President. Only three persons were allowed to give their responses to what the President and the King Salman have stated," Lukman said.
They expressed some hope that the good relationship between the two countries can be strengthened and the quality of Hajj and Umrah services can be increased, he added. "And hopefully Indonesia still get additional quota for Hajj pilgrimiage as Indonesians have great interest in the pilgrimage," Lukman added.
King Salman arrived in Jakarta on March 1 and will be in the city until 3 March 2017. Next, along with 1,500 delegate members, including 14 ministers and 25 princes, the King will travel to Bali on March 4-9, 2017.
The last visit of the King of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia was in 1970.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
