TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Vice President Jusuf Kalla is a strong believer of the fact that Indonesians, with their differences and diverse cultures, ethnic groups, and customs, are expected to unify the nation for encouraging its advancement.

Jusuf Kalla noted that Indonesia, with several thousand islands, clearly had differences in terms of its people, though they need to be resolved, so that they turn out to be the key strength and capital of the Indonesian nation.

"What is the difference between the nation and country? The state clearly has its limitations. The nation has no boundaries but has similarities, feelings, and willingness to progress and to unite us all as a nation, although we are different," Kalla noted in his remarks at the National Festival II at the University of Muhammadiyah, Malang, East Java, Saturday.

Jusuf Kalla added that Indonesia had unique traits in terms of its people as compared to other nations and the main capital in ensuring further advancement in prosperity, justice, and Indonesia's economy.

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The vice president remarked that the differences in Indonesia are not its Achilles heel but instead its strength. Kalla cited as an example that the differences or diversity were apparent from the participants at the National Festival II constituting Muslims and followers of other religions.

"In this country, brimming with diversity, there are Catholic sisters. This demonstrates the sound cooperation. Differences are not in any way a weakness, but they are our strengths," Jusuf Kalla noted.

On the occasion, Kalla also inaugurated UMM's latest infrastructure: the Joint Lecture Building (GKB) IV, the Kapal Garden Hotel, Bridge, and Student Flats in the UMM Hospital.

After a visit to UMM in Malang City, Kalla will head to Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB), to review post-disaster reconstruction work at a location in Teratak Village, North Batukliang Sub-district, Central Lombok District.

After visiting NTB Province, Jusuf Kalla and his group were scheduled to attend the National Dharmasanti Nyepi Day Ceremony of Saka New Year 1941 in Denpasar, Bali.

ANTARA