Saudi Arabia's King Salman arrives in Indonesia to cheering crowds

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Wednesday signed agreements in areas ranging from trade to aviation as the kingdom's monarch visited the world's most populous Muslim-majority country for the first time in nearly half a century. To commemorate the event, King Salman prepared his luggage thoroughly, including an airfreight company tasked with transporting some 500 tons of material, including two Mercedes-Benz limousines, among other objects. King Salman headed directly toward the Bogor Presidential Palace and attended a launch reception.

As part of the elaborate preparations for the visit, 150 chefs have been hired to cook food for the king and his party, according to local media.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman is travelling in style on an official visit to Indonesia.

The leaders oversaw the signing of 11 cooperation memoranda following Wednesday's talks at the Bogor palace.

President Widodo and King Salman witnessed the signing of agreements on cooperation in areas of fighting crime, trade, investment, fishery, research and technology, high education, culture and health.

Salman, 81, said he hoped the visit would "contribute to the improvement of the bilateral relationship between our two countries".

King Salman, who arrived in Jakarta on Wednesday along with 1,500 members of his entourage who are accompanying him during his month-long visit to several Asian countries, is set to spend five days in Bali, from March 4 to 9.

The king is due to give a speech to parliament on Thursday and visit South-east Asia's biggest mosque during his three-day visit to Jakarta.

The king's visit to Indonesia also comes as fringe Islamist groups grow in influence and Muslim leaders take an increasingly strict line on Islamic issues, which is at odds with Indonesia's traditional brand of moderate Islam. Following his departure from Jakarta, the monarch will carry on with his three-week tour across Asia, visiting Malaysia, and then Japan, China and the Maldives.

Source: Saudi Arabia's King Salman arrives in Indonesia to cheering crowds