PBNU-UAE Explores Cooperation In Education

JAKARTA - The Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are exploring opportunities for cooperation in various sectors, one of which is education.

"We discussed a number of opportunities, including cooperation to develop the higher education system within NU. We have reached many things as an agreement," said PBNU General Chair Yahya Cholil Staquf in a written statement quoted by Antara, Friday, June 3.

The cooperation was explored after the UAE Ambassador Abdulla Salem AlDhaheri visited the PBNU office, Jakarta. During the two-hour meeting, they discussed a number of issues regarding opportunities for collaboration.

Yahya said that the commitment to the cooperation that would be carried out in the future would be followed up at a later date. He admitted that he would repay Ambassador Abdulla Salem's visit by coming directly to a number of cities in the UAE.

"I myself will immediately follow up by visiting Abu Dhabi and Dubai to meet with a number of parties there to follow up on a concrete cooperation, God willing," he said.

Meanwhile, the UAE Ambassador Abdulla Salem said he was happy to meet and collaborate with PBNU. He said the two parties between PBNU and the UAE would soon make an agreement regarding joint work in the future.

Abdulla Salem hopes that the agreement to develop education and higher education can strengthen and enhance the good relations that have existed between the two parties.

He said that over the past two years, he had been running fast to complete various programs with various parties in Indonesia. Abdulla Salem hopes that the cooperation that will be carried out with NU will also run smoothly.

"What we are doing in Indonesia is an investment for local people (in the UAE) to broaden their horizons and experiences," said Abdulla.