WNAM REPORT: In a strategic assessment of national potential, Minister Fadli Zon articulated Indonesia’s capacity to utilize its cultural wealth as an instrument of soft power in international relations for successfully navigating global challenges and competitive landscapes.
“Indonesia is blessed with a wealth of cultural heritages and possesses a strong cultural identity. This country will be able to deal with global competitions provided that we make the most of these two aspects,” the minister of culture noted in a statement received in Depok, West Java, on Friday.
Zon underscored that Article 32, Paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution mandates the state to promote Indonesia’s national culture amid the world civilization by guaranteeing people’s freedom in preserving and developing their cultural values.
Furthermore, the minister remarked that Indonesia’s soft power could be further developed by endorsing and applying the nation’s noble values and practices, such as cooperation, interfaith tolerance, respect for nature and the environment, and preservation of cultural diversity.
He then highlighted the traditional puppet theater wayang, traditional dagger keris, and batik cloth as examples of globally known Indonesian cultural products.
Moreover, he noted that the quality of Indonesia’s films, culinary arts, and music also gained recognition from the international community.
Zon then echoed the Ministry of Culture’s determination to strengthen Indonesia’s soft power by introducing the world to various prehistoric items in its soil.
In this regard, he pointed to the Homo Erectus fossils in Sragen, Central Java; ancient cave paintings in the Leang-Leang Archaeological Park in Maros, South Sulawesi; and ancient stone tools on Flores Island of East Nusa Tenggara.
He also highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting Indonesia’s cultural wealth through educational activities and research.
