President Jokowi: Indonesia & India Agree to Promote Islam as Religion of Peace

President Jokowi received a courtesy call from Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari at the Presidential Suit, The Leela Palace Hotel, New Delhi, on Monday (12/12) afternoon. (Photo: BPMI/ Rusman)

After meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo received a courtesy call from the Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari at the Presidential Suit of The Leela Palace Hotel, New Delhi, on Monday (12/12) afternoon.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi explained that during the meeting, President Jokowi and Indian Vice President Ansari discussed cooperation between the two countries to promote Islam as a religion of peace.

“A cooperation to promote Islam as a religion of peace and rahmatan lil ‘alamin (blessing for the universe). Besides, Indian Vice President is a Muslim as well. And Indonesia is a country with the largest Muslim population, while India ranks second with 170 million of Muslim population,” Retno told reporters after accompanying President Jokowi.

In November 2015, Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari visited Indonesia and held an official meeting with President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Additionally, Ansari visited the Istiqlal Mosque and was a speaker at a public lecture as well as inaugurated a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Bali.

During the meeting, the President was accompanied by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi and Indonesian Ambassador to India Rizal Wilmar Indrakesuma. (BPMI/UN/ES) (MUR/YM/Naster)