VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) took the opportunity to telephonically convey Idul Adha greetings to Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Friday afternoon (July 31).

"I and the people of Indonesia wish Your Majesty the King and all people of Saudi Arabia Happy Eid Al-Adha 441 H," President Jokowi told King Salman Al Saud, as quoted in a government press statement issued here on Saturday.

The president echoed his contentment on the King’s recovery.

"I and all people of Indonesia pray that Majesty, the King, is always blessed with good health," he stated.

During the telephonic conversation, President Jokowi also lauded the Saudi Arabian government for holding the Hajj pilgrimage conducted on a limited basis this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We also praise the arrangements made for the implementation of Hajj being conducted by applying strict health protocols and by promoting the health of people. Let us continue to pray that this pandemic can be quickly overcome," he emphasized.

Furthermore, President Jokowi expressed the Indonesian government’s keenness to intensify cooperation with the Government of Saudi Arabia to which King Salman responded positively.

"Mr. President, God Willing, we are always ready to intensify relations for the good of the two countries," King Salman told President Jokowi. King Salman was discharged from the hospital after a 10-day stay during which the 84-year-old leader underwent gall bladder removal surgery.

A video released late on Thursday by the Saudi state media showed the King walking steadily out of King Faisal Hospital in the capital, Riyadh, followed by several aides and his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

King Salman was admitted to the hospital on July 20 as he was suffering from inflammation of the gall bladder, according to the state media. (ANTARA)