Indonesia, Saudi Arabia Share Preception To Combat Terrorism

JAKARTA, March 2 (Antara) - Indonesia and Saudi Arabia shared perception to fight against terrorism, radicalism and extremism, Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said. "One of the memorandums of understanding which has just been signed is that Indonesia and Saudi Arabia (have shared perception) to fight against terrorism, radicalism and extremism," Lukman said after accompanying President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to receive Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud at the Bogor Palace in Bogor, West Java, on Wednesday. Lukman was responding to fear that cooperation with Saudi Arabia may serve as a gateway for radicalism to Indonesia. "I think it will not happen. (The cooperation between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia) puts emphasis on strengthening economic cooperation, besides it is related to social issues, religious education and so on," he said. The signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries has positive meaning. In total, 11 cooperation agreements were signed during the first day of the Saudi king's visit to Indonesia. "This is something historical. Of course, we, the ministers, are obliged to follow up on the agreements," he said. King Salman and his entourage arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma Airport in Jakarta on Wednesday at around 1 pm local time. The Saudi king will stay in the country for nine days from March 1 to March 9. He will stay in Jakarta for four days on a state visit and will be holidaying in Bali for five days. On Thursday, he will meet leaders of several Islamic organizations at the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta.