Kuta, Bali (ANTARA News) - Saudi Arabias King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud arrived at Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali aboard Saudi Arabia Royal aircraft SV-01 at 5.53 p.m. local time.

The Saudi king was greeted by Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, Bali Regional Police Chief Inspector General Petrus Golose, and the chief the IX/Udayana Military Command.

Interfaith figures were also seen welcoming the king who arrived from Brunei Darussalam.

The king was welcomed with the Balinese traditional Pendet dance by 50 child dancers followed by Gamelan, the traditional music of Bali.

He will be staying in Bali for a six-day vacation till March 9, 2017. The king will stay in the Nusa Dua elite area of Bali along with about 1.5 thousand delegates, including 25 princes and 14 ministers.

Earlier in the day, King Salman left Jakarta for Brunei Darussalam for a half-day visit to that country.

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla escorted the king as he departed for the Seribegawan Airport, Brunei Darussalam, from the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, on Saturday morning.

The vice president was accompanied by Indonesian Military Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi, and Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Syaifudin.

According to Kalla, the Saudi king considered Indonesia as his second home.

"He considers Indonesia as his second home, as his visit to the country is the most extraordinary one," Kalla stated at the Halim Perdanakusumah airport after bidding farewell to the king who headed to Brunei Darussalam at 10 a.m. local time.

Kalla said King Salman had thanked the people of Indonesia for their warm welcome.

"I told him that the warm welcome reflected Indonesias love for Saudi Arabia," he remarked.

Kalla also conveyed the gratitude of the Indonesian government and the people to King Salman for his services in taking care of the two Muslim Holy Cities of Mecca and Medina.

"We thank the king for looking after the Two Holy Cities. We also explained that here in Indonesia, we have 800 thousand mosques. Hence, Saudis mosques are grand, while ours are numerous," the vice president stated.

(A014/INE)
EDITED BY INE
(KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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