Saudi King Salman increases Indonesia's haj quota

Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud has restored Indonesia's Haj quota to the normal level at 211,000 pilgrims and granted an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims in 2017, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported. "Specially, President Jokowi (Joko Widodo) lauded the restoration of the Haj quota for Indonesia," Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said after the welcoming ceremony organised for King Salman at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Wednesday.

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia are two great Muslim-majority nations.

According to Marsudi, each country has an important influence in the region, as both are members of the G20 and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

"In the last two years, both countries have been intensifying relations to improve and expand bilateral cooperation. The visits by high-ranking officials of both countries have been rapidly increasing since the visit of President Jokowi to Saudi Arabia in 2015," she noted.

The bilateral meeting between President Jokowi and King Salman at the state palace ran smoothly, including the signing of 10 cooperation agreements between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in various fields ranging from education and culture to economic cooperation.

On the occasion, President Jokowi also conferred the First-class Honours Star of the Republic of Indonesia of Adipurna to King Salman.

It was bestowed on the Saudi King based on Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 22/TK/2017 to laud the remarkable services of King Salman in various fields that are beneficial for the continuity in good relations between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, the highest honour is also a reciprocal gesture, as President Jokowi had earlier received the Star of the Order of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud Medal at the Palace of Al-Salam Diwan Malaki in Jeddah on Sept 12, 2015. -- Bernama