JAKARTA: Archbishop Al-Azhar Sharif met with Indonesia’s current and incoming leaders on Wednesday during his Jakarta visit as part of a Southeast Asian tour.
Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb’s regional tour, which began on July 2, has visited Malaysia and Thailand, with Indonesia being his final stop.
“We are very pleased with your visit, which coincides with the Islamic new year,” Indonesian Vice President Ma’ruf Amin said during his meeting with Al Tayeb.
Amin highlighted Indonesia’s close cooperation with Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, which is an “important part” in the history of Indonesia-Egypt relations and cooperation, his office said in a statement.
Al Tayeb also met on Wednesday with Indonesia’s president-elect and defence minister, Prabowo Subianto, and attended an interfaith event organised by Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia’s largest Islamic organisation.
President Joko Widodo and Al Tayeb met on Tuesday to discuss Indonesia-Egypt cooperation in education and interreligious cooperation.
“Regarding Indonesia-Egypt relations, the president stressed that Egypt has historically been a destination for many Indonesian students studying abroad,” Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters after the meeting.
There are about 15,000 Indonesians living in Egypt, of which about 95 percent are students.
As grand imam, Al-Tayeb heads Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Al-Azhar Mosque and Al-Azhar University, and is also in charge of official religious affairs, along with Egypt’s grand mufti.
Al-Azhar Al-Sharif is one of the most prestigious Islamic scientific organizations in the world and the largest religious institution in Egypt.
Muhammad Zainul Majidi, head of the Indonesian chapter of the International Organization of Al-Azhar Alumni, said Al-Tayeb’s visit would have a positive impact on the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, adding that it “will also mark an important milestone in strengthening Indonesia’s ties with Al-Azhar, one of the oldest Islamic academic institutions with great global influence.”
