On Thursday, August 2, a high delegation from Indonesia led by the Deputy Mayor of Jakarta Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno visited the Moscow Cathedral Mosque.

The delegation also included Asia Abdul Aziz (the spouse of the deputy mayor of Jakarta), Reydonnyzar Moenek   (expert of the Ministry of Internal Affairs), Sinta Nindiawati (head of the international cooperation department), Hari Vibovo (head of the tourism department), Sherli Juliana (head of the  international promotion department), Elizabeth Ratu Rante Allo ( head of the industrial division at the Industry and Energy department), Bambang Chahyani Rikrik (expert associate of the deputy mayor of Jakarta), as well as representatives of the Indonesian Embassy in Russia: Lasro Simbolon (deputy Ambassador), Fawzi Bustami (political issues cocordinator), Avi Cenna Fawzi (commission member), Vladimir Parnikel (interprete).  At the beginning of the meeting the guests were offered a guided tour of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, where they had an opportunity to learn about the history of the major Muslim temple in Russia.

The delegation was received by the First Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Damir Gizatullin. The meeting was also attended by leading specialists of the International Department of the Russia Muftis Council, Artur Gubaidullin and Ismail Gindullin, as well as the head of the International Center for Halal Standardization and Certification of the Russia Muftis Council, Aidar Gazizov.

At the beginning of the meeting, Damir Gizatullin conveyed the greetings from the religious leader of Russian Muslims, head of the RMC Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin. He informed the delegation members about the activities of the numerous Muslim ummah.

"More than 25 million Muslims live in Russia today, all of them being indigenous people and representing about 35 small nations. The leading federal media broadcast celebrations of the main Muslim holidays. We will be glad to cooperate in the field of education, in particular, the exchange of students and imams ", - he said.

He also recalled the historic visit of the Indonesian President Ahmed Sukarno to the Moscow Cathedral Mosque in 1956.

During the meeting, Damir Gizatullin conveyed greetings and expressed gratitude to the Ambassador of Indonesia in the Russian Federation, Wahid Supriyadi. He emphasized the fact that the relations between the Muslims of Russia and Indonesia were developing and strengthening in different spheres.

When speaking about educational activities, the first deputy chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of Russia told about the initiatives of Muslim educational institutions, in particular the Bolgar Islamic Academy, which was established in Tatarstan with the support of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.

"We are pleased to meet you at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. The largest Islamic centre has been operating for 20 years in Jakarta, and we would like to invite the head of the Russia Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gaynutdin and his deputies to our Islamic centre. We are willing to cooperate for the benefit of preserving and spreading true Islamic values in the sphere of education and halal industry, "said Deputy Mayor of Jakarta Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno.

In his turn, Aidar Gazizov, head of the Halal Certification Centre noted that an internationally accredited Halal Certification Centre has been operating under the Russia Muftis Council for last 16 years.

"We have been cooperating with Indonesia for several years, which includes exporting poultry meat and other halal products. We are ready to enhance our cooperation. This autumn an International Halal Exhibition - Moscow Halal Expo – will take place in Moscow, and we will be happy to welcome you at the largest halal industry event in Russia, "said Aidar Gazizov.