Jokowi calls saudi King Salman to bid farewell

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) spoke to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia by phone on Sunday morning to bid a farewell to the king who concluded his vacation in Bali.

President Jokowi personally wished the King a safe journey before the king left Bali for Japan, Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi was quoted as saying by Bey Machmudin, head of the Press, Media and Information Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat.

He thanked the King and his delegation for the visit to Indonesia. 

Within the next two months, Jokowi will assign related ministers to materialize the results of King al-Saud's visit to Indonesia, according to the ministers. 

The Saudi King expressed his appreciation to the government and people of Indonesia for warm welcome. He and his entourage felt happy during staying in Indonesia.

"The king hoped that the exchanges of visit both by the government officials and the private sector, could be intensified," Marsudi was quoted as saying.

The minister payed a courtesy call on King Salman al-Saud in St Regis Hotel in Bali, before the his departure.

The king reiterated his hope that Saudi Arabia and Indonesia to strengthen bilateral cooperation including in the economic field.

According to King Salman, as countries with open economy, it will be easier for the two nations to intensify economic cooperation, Retno Marsudi said.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud left Bali for Japan on Sunday at 11:15 am. local time after enjoying an eight-day vacation in Bali, which is one of the worlds most famous tourist resorts.

He was seen off by among others Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifudin, and Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

He was holidaying in Bali from March 4 to 12, after paying a state visit to Jakarta on March 1-3, which is considered to be historical as a Saudi king had lasted visited Indonesia 47 years ago. 

Source: ANTARA