REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo has called on the people to express gratefulness over the country's independence by working hard for the advancement of the country.

"Through the 72nd independence anniversary commemoration we confirm our commitment to safeguard our unity, brotherhood and tolerance and to work together, hand in hand in cooperation with ulemas for the progress of our country Indonesia," he said in his speech at a national prayer held in the yard of Merdeka Presidential Palace here on Tuesday evening.

He said national unity and integrity has become one of the country's superiorities compared to other countries.

With "Pancasila" as the foundation people have respected each other and different groups can live in harmony and cooperate, he said.

The head of state said many countries praised Indonesia's unity and integrity that has so far been well preserved.

"They are amazed because they know how nice life would be if people live in unity, with tolerance and peacefully. In view of that we must be grateful over this by working hard and pray," he said.

The event called "Dzikir Kebangsaan" held to meet the country's 72nd independence that would fall on August 17 was attended by a number of officials as well as the general chairman of the Indonesia Ulemas Council, Ma'ruf Amin, coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs Wiranto, the commander of the defense forces, General Gatot Nurmantyo and police chief General Tito Karnavian.

A total of 2,000 Muslims from several regions in the country have been invited including from Aceh, West Java, South Sulawesi, Banten and North Sulawesi.

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