Jakarta, Jan. 27 -- Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has expressed hope that the santris (students) of Kauman Islamic Boarding School in Lasem, Rembang, Central Java, will help maintain multiculturalism by living in harmony with the ethnic Chinese community there.

"I am happy that multiculturalism in Lasem continues to be maintained; this is the wealth of Lasem, for Indonesia, and for all of us," he said in a press release from his office on Saturday.

On the same day, Amin attended the 52nd memorial event of K.H. Ma'shoem Ahmad, a prominent Islamic scholar, and the 101st anniversary event of Nahdlatul Ulama at Kauman Islamic Boarding School.

Built by the descendants of K.H. Ma'shoem Ahmad, the boarding school is known as "Little China" becau...