"On behalf of the Indonesian Government, we express our sincere gratitude for the gifts given by King Salman in the form of Al-Quran and dates," Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi stated while receiving the gifts here on Tuesday.
Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Amudi symbolically handed over the dates to Sa'adi at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory, Jakarta.
The deputy minister remarked that the dates will be distributed through the regional offices of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in regions and thereafter be given to religious organizations and leaders.
"We will distribute them to all parties through regional offices. Later, the regional offices will continue (the distribution) to community organizations and leaders in regions," he explained.
According to Sa'adi, this gift of dates was not the first time that King Salman had given something. On every Ramadan, King Salman often gives gifts to Indonesia.
Earlier, before Ramadan, Saudi Arabia had also given staple food packages through the National Alms Agency (Baznas).
"We hope that this good cooperation will not only be in the social and religious fields but also improve (cooperation) in trade, economy, education, and others," he remarked.
Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Amudi stated that the dates gifted are of a special kind.
"These are special dates whose distribution will be coordinated with the Ministry of Religious Affairs that will be fully responsible for the distribution. The amount is 100 tons," the ambassador remarked.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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