Congress of Leaders of World, Traditional Religions Praises Makkah Declaration for Promoting Peace

Secretary of the Muslim World League (MWL) Mohammed Bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa addressing the audience in the Kazakhstan conference in a recorded speech (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary of the Muslim World League (MWL) Mohammed Bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa addressing the audience in the Kazakhstan conference in a recorded speech (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Congress of Leaders of World, Traditional Religions Praises Makkah Declaration for Promoting Peace

Secretary of the Muslim World League (MWL) Mohammed Bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa addressing the audience in the Kazakhstan conference in a recorded speech (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary of the Muslim World League (MWL) Mohammed Bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa addressing the audience in the Kazakhstan conference in a recorded speech (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The final statement of the seventh Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions praised the historic Makkah Declaration, which was signed by the grand Imams and Muftis of the Islamic world and scholars in Makkah, stressing its importance in promoting peace, dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect, for the good of humanity.

The Congress brought together more than 100 delegations of major religious leaders influential on the international scene in the presence of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Secretary of the Muslim World League (MWL) and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars Mohammed Bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa had assigned his deputy, Abdul Rahman Al-Zayd, to represent the international Islamic NGO at the Congress’s forum activities.

In a recorded speech that was played at the Congress, Al-Issa addressed some broad headlines about the importance of “common values.”

The MWL chief also stressed that religious diplomacy is an important and influential tool in the context of promoting these values.

In the videotaped speech, Al-Issa reiterated the importance of dialogue and conscious civilizational and cultural communication, saying most conflicts throughout human history have been the result of ideas on religions, which only express the orientations of their beholders.
Islamic leaders participating in the Congress’s activities praised the Makkah Declaration as a qualitative historical achievement and a significant turning point in contemporary Islamic history.

They said that the Declaration, in its legitimate and intellectual context, embraces all Islamic sects.

The Makkah Declaration was celebrated on various international platforms with its religious and cultural diversity and was adopted by the Islamic countries at the meeting of their foreign ministers in Niamey, Niger.

The document became a reference in training imams in several countries and was considered with great appreciation for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, who sponsored its international conference held in Makkah in 2019, organized by MWL, and signed by 1,200 muftis and scholars and more than 4,500 Islamic thinkers.



Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
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Saudi and Indonesian Leaders Hold Talks on Regional, Global Issues

The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 
The Saudi Crown Prince and the Indonesian President during their talks at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Wednesday (SPA) 

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman held official talks on Wednesday with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on the latest regional and international developments, as well as efforts to address them. The leaders also discussed a range of issues of common interest and ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The meeting took place at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where Subianto was welcomed with an official reception ceremony. During their discussions, the two sides reviewed the state of relations between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia and explored opportunities to expand collaboration across various sectors.

The visit also marked the convening of the first session of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council. Senior officials from both countries attended the meeting, where a number of topics on the council’s agenda were addressed. At the conclusion, the two leaders signed the official record of the proceedings.

President Subianto arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday for a state visit to the Kingdom. He was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Saud bin Mishaal, Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region; Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi, who served as the accompanying minister; and other senior officials.

The Indonesian president’s visit comes amid significant regional developments, highlighting the importance of close coordination between Riyadh and Jakarta to reinforce regional and global security and stability.

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia share a common vision on resolving conflicts through peaceful, diplomatic means and dialogue. Both countries emphasize the need to create conditions that promote stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.

Ties between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have steadily grown over nearly eight decades, encompassing political, economic, and cultural cooperation. The two countries are influential members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and play important roles within the G20. They are also bound by longstanding and close ties between their peoples.

Formal relations date back to the era of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman, when Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to recognize Indonesia’s independence. This early recognition paved the way for the exchange of diplomatic missions, which later developed into full embassies. Indonesia opened its first embassy in Jeddah in 1948, while Saudi Arabia established its embassy in Jakarta in 1955.

Today, Saudi Arabia is Indonesia’s largest trading partner in the region. Both governments are committed to strengthening and diversifying trade, overcoming obstacles that hinder economic exchange, and fostering deeper engagement between their private sectors. Bilateral trade reached $6.5 billion by the end of 2024.

According to the Saudi Aid Platform, the Kingdom has implemented 113 projects in Indonesia, with a combined value of approximately $670 million. These projects span sectors such as education, transport and logistics, industry, mining, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, healthcare and early recovery, housing, non-food assistance, and a variety of developmental, humanitarian, and charitable initiatives.