Kingdom’s Haj arrangements impress Taiwan delegation

JEDDAH: Ibrahim Chao, a Taiwanese adviser to the Chinese Muslim Association, called upon foreign Haj missions to educate their pilgrims about Haj matters before their arrival in the Kingdom.
“About one third of Hajis are not accustomed to modern facilities such as the train system and elevators. We should educate them properly about such facilities so that they can use them without any difficulty,” said Chao.
The adviser came to perform Haj this year, heading a 33-member delegation from Taiwan. He praised Saudi authorities for making excellent arrangements for the nearly four million pilgrims.
Chao noted Muslims’ readiness to pay for the Haj pilgrimage despite global depression. “Many people thought the number of pilgrims would decline this year due to global economic crisis. By the grace of God, a record four million performed Haj this year. This reflects the growing economic strength of the Muslim world,” he added.
Chao urged Muslims all over the world to get united, inspired by King Abdullah’s call. In his keynote address to foreign Haj missions at Mina, the Saudi king urged Muslims to get rid of their differences and work for unity.
According to Chao, about 120,000 Muslims live in Taiwan. He disclosed plans to establish more Islamic centers and mosques in Taiwan to meet the needs of Muslims in different parts of the island state.
Jacques Wu, director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Jeddah, said, “Muslims are like one family, despite their racial, language and color differences. They come from different parts of the world to perform Haj, a symbol of Muslim unity.”
He highlighted the growing Saudi-Taiwan business relations. More than 20,000 Saudi tourists visit the country every year. Taiwan intends to launch a marketing campaign to attract more Saudi tourists.