Indonesia, Saudi Arabia Seek to Deepen Cultural Cooperation and Heritage Collaboration
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Fadli Zon has reaffirmed Jakarta’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia, with a particular focus on enhancing cooperation in the cultural sector.
The remarks came during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Faisal Abdullah H. Amodi in Jakarta on Thursday, where both sides explored avenues to deepen cultural collaboration.
Fadli Zon welcomed the ambassador’s visit and expressed optimism that cultural cooperation between the two nations would continue to grow, delivering tangible benefits to their respective cultural ecosystems.
Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, which share a longstanding 76-year relationship, discussed several strategic initiatives aimed at promoting cultural exchange and leveraging Indonesia’s diverse cultural assets.
The minister highlighted that the establishment of Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture as an independent body marks a significant step toward advancing the country’s cultural development agenda.
He also noted that Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, is expected to visit Jakarta to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation, replacing the current agreement set to expire in 2027.
In the multilateral arena, Indonesia announced its candidacy for membership in the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2026–2030 term. Fadli Zon emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s support would reinforce joint efforts to promote and preserve cultural heritage on a global scale.
Both countries are also exploring collaboration in expanding UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage elements, including Arabic calligraphy, as well as other shared cultural practices such as the Majlis and the Date Palm.
Additionally, discussions covered opportunities in the cultural industry, particularly in film production and festivals. Potential collaboration includes participation in the Red Sea Film Festival and the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, paving the way for co-productions and stronger cinematic ties between the two nations.
The meeting underscored a shared commitment to enhancing cultural diplomacy and fostering deeper people-to-people connections through creative and heritage-based initiatives.
