The governor was very enthusiastic, as a governor in a province with a majority Hindu population, to receive the secretary general of a very important organization from a very prominent Islamic state.Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Mohammed Al-Issa expects the forum to have a major impact on building world peace, according to Religion of Twenty (R20) Spokesperson Muhammad Najib Azca.
The R20 meeting, part of the Sherpa Track of Indonesia's 2022 G20 Presidency engagement group, is co-chaired and co-hosted by Indonesian Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) and MWL.
It will be held in Bali Province on November 2-3, 2022, to encourage discussions among world religious leaders, so that religion can provide solutions to various global problems.
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"He (Al-Issa) really hoped that this (the R20 forum) would truly become a memorable and impactful event that would have a big influence on the development and building of world peace," the R20 spokesperson stated on Monday.
The MWL secretary general expressed optimism while visiting Bali Governor I Wayan Koster on Sunday (October 30, 2022) afternoon. The visit was made in connection with preparations for the implementation of the R20.
"The governor was very enthusiastic, as a governor in a province with a majority Hindu population, to receive the secretary general of a very important organization from a very prominent Islamic state," Azca noted.
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The governor also expressed hope that R20 would offer the right momentum to garner public support to realize a more equitable world.
During the meeting, Koster offered a traditional Balinese cloth as a gift to Al-Issa, while the MWL secretary general handed over a golden palm tree miniature to the Bali governor.
After the R20 meeting in Bali, Al-Issa and the G20 delegates are scheduled to visit the Yogyakarta Palace, Prambanan Temple, and Borobudur Temple in Yogyakarta Province.
Earlier, the PBNU estimated that 160 of the world's inter-religious figures and 250 domestic participants would attend the R20 Forum.
PBNU Communication and Information Institute Chairperson Ishaq Zubaedi Raqib said that the main purpose of the R20 forum was to prevent identity issues to be used as a weapon, avoid group hate, and protect residents from violence and conflict.
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