Rangga P, Azis Kurmala, Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) officially opened the 34th Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Congress held at the Darussaadah Islamic Boarding School, Gunung Sugih Sub-District, Central Lampung District, Wednesday.

"By saying bismillahirohmanirohim (In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful), this morning, I officially open the 34th Nahdlatul Ulama Congress," Jokowi said in his remarks monitored in Jakarta, Wednesday.

The head of state expressed his gratitude to NU, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, for assisting the government in handling the COVID-19 pandemic and making the vaccination program a success.

The president also thanked the NU for its work and for continuing to guard tolerance, pluralism, the 1945 Constitution, diversity, and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

"We hope that with this, we would be able to continue to protect and care for the nation and country," he noted.

The president attended the 34th NU Congress in the company of First Lady Iriana.

Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin and his spouse Wury also attended the 34th NU congress.

Chairman of NU Said Aqil Siradj earlier spoke of having received several inputs to run for the chairmanship again and expressed his readiness to continue chairing the NU Executive Board.

"I have not spoken about my candidacy with the president, and (I just reported) about the plan to organize the congress. I am seeking support for its success," he added.

Siradj has been the chairman of NU for two terms: 2010-2015 and 2015-present.

During the meeting, he also lauded the implementation of COVID-19 vaccinations.

"The vaccination has been successful. Indonesia is the fifth country that is successful in conducting vaccinations and is able to control the transmission of COVID-19 and especially vaccinations for those at Islamic boarding schools. It is extraordinary. It is beyond my expectations that massive vaccinations could be conducted at Islamic boarding schools and (attract) kiai (Islamic scholars)," he remarked.

Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/205809/joko-widodo-officially-opens-34th-nu-congres