Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz continued Saturday his first official visit to Egypt by meeting individually with Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Pope Tawadros II of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
The Saudi king also met with Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb to discuss methods to combat extremism in the region and “promote centrist Islam.
Egyptian Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II met Saudi King Salman, in the first meeting of its kind, as the Saudi monarch continues a five-day visit to Cairo, state news agency MENA reported.
During the meeting, Tawadros expressed his gratitude for Saudi support of Egypt, emphasising the depth and strength of Egyptian-Saudi relations throughout history.
The Coptic pope also emphasised that religion is a relationship between man and god, and that all religions call for tolerance and coexistence.
Tawadros also expressed his appreciation for the care of the Saudi kingdom towards all Egyptian workers in the Arab Gulf country.
This is the first ever meeting between the head of the Egyptian Coptic Orthodox and a Saudi monarch.
The meeting took place at the king’s residence in Cairo.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmad Al-Tayeb called on Saturday for unity among all Muslims against growing challenges in the Islamic world.
This call came after a first time visit of its kind for a Saudi monarch to the Al-Azhar institution where the monarch and the Grand Imam discussed, among other things, means of combating extremism and terrorism, said a statement issued by the Al-Azhar.
Both dignitaries emphasized the need for both Saudi Arabia and Al-Azhar to guard the core values of Islam while rejecting religious extremism.
They stressed the imperative “to disseminate the culture of peace, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence,” said the statement, adding that “Saudi Arabia and Al-Azhar would remain steadfast partners against terrorism.” Al-Tayeb expressed his profound appreciation for the laudable role Saudi Arabia continually plays vis-Ø£ -vis issues dear to the minds and hearts of the Muslim world, a role that upholds the fundamentals of promoting peace and shared coexistence.
King Salman met with President Sisi.
On his part, the Saudi monarch praised the Al-Azhar institution for promoting tolerance and discrediting extremism and terrorism.
The Saudi guest toured the institution’s facilities and expressed admiration for them. He is currently on a five-day visit to Egypt.
Salman, who arrived in Cairo Friday, has signed a number of economic accords, including the framework for a number of loans signed in March, worth over $20 billion.
The king is expected to give a speech in front of Egypt’s parliament Sunday.
Source: News Agencies, April 9
