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Jokowi recalls past trade relations with Chinese Muslims
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President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo arrives at the Hangzhou Exhibition Center to participate in the G20 Summit on Sept. 4, 2016 in Hangzhou, China. (Bloomberg)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in visiting Niujie Mosque in Beijing, China, on Sunday, honored Chinese Muslim traders that had traded with the archipelagic nation for centuries.
Jokowi met with several Chinese Muslim figures, including the mosque's imam, Ali Yang Gunjun, and the head of the Chinese Muslim Association, Yang Faming. The president expressed gratitude for friendship and hospitality given to Indonesian Muslims staying in Beijing.
Jokowi acknowledged that there was long history between Muslims in the two countries.
“Our relationship with China started 15 centuries ago, when Chinese Muslim traders arrived in Lasem [Central Java] and Palembang [South Sumatra],” he said.
(Read also: Jokowi seeks infrastructure investors at China summit)
Imam Ali of Niujie Mosque said the relationship between Indonesian and Chinese Muslims could strengthen economic ties and trade between the two countries.
The Chinese government, he said, has shown support toward Muslim communities in China.
“We have 56,000 imams and 7,000 Islamic associations in the country,” Ali said.
Niujie Mosque is the center of Muslim communities in Beijing. The mosque was built in 966 during the Liao Dynasty (916-1125). (rdi/wit)
