Jakarta, June 29 -- Speaker of the Indonesian People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Ahmad Muzani, is pushing for the opening of direct flights between Indonesia and Uzbekistan to support religious tourism and strengthen bilateral ties between the two Muslim-majority nations.

He raised the proposal during a meeting with the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Tanzila Narbayeva, in Uzbekistan on Monday, local time.

In a written statement received in Jakarta, Muzani noted that direct flights would ease travel for Indonesians wishing to visit the tomb of Imam Bukhari in Uzbekistan before continuing their Umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

"Uzbekistan's religious tourism potential holds great appeal for Indonesian pil...