Indonesian ministers bid farewell to King Salman of Saudi Arabia

 The government and people of Indonesia bid a farewell to Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud who concluded his state visit and vacation in Indonesia from March 1 to 12.

Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin and Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi saw off the King and his entourage who departed for Japan from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, on Sunday at around 11 a.m. local time, on behalf the government and people of Indonesia.

"King Salman always gave a friendly smile, welcomed, greeted, and shook the hand of every one who escorted him to the airplane's elevator," Minister Saifuddin was quoted as saying in a press statement published on the Religious Affairs Ministry's official website here on Sunday.

Religious Affairs Minister also conveyed a prayer in Arabic to King Salman for his well-beings, safe flights, and travels to Japan, before on board to the Saudi Arabian Royal Aircraft Boeing 747.

The Bali airport was closed for 45 minutes during the departure of the King. Five international flights and 13 domestic flights were affected due to the temporary closure.

On the previous day, a Saudi plane carrying 16.6-ton cargo had left Bali for Japan.

Along with the two ministers, Bali's Governor I Mangku Pastika, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia Osama bin Mohammed Abdullah al-Shuaib, Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Agus Maftuh, and Bali Regional Police Chief Petrus Reinhard Golose also saw off the Kings departure.

The Saudi King 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.

About 2,500 joint security forces on Indonesian Military and Police, as well as Balinese traditional security guards called "pecalang" were deployed in various areas during the King and Royal familys visit in Bali.

Prior to his visit to Indonesia, King Salman had visited Malaysia, and will continue his "Asian Tour" to Japan and China. 

Source: ANTARA