Fadli Welcomes Plans for Cultural Collaboration with Kazakhstan

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon, in a meeting with the Republic of Indonesia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Kazakhstan, concurrently to the Republic of Tajikistan, Mochamad Fadjroel Rachman, welcomed the plan for collaboration with Kazakhstan, particularly in the cultural sector. ‘In culture, what we push is tradition, with silat as an Intangible Cultural Heritage,’ Fadli said in a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday. The meeting discussed a number of strategic agendas, among them a plan for a cultural forum during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Indonesia, collaboration to strengthen the tradition of pencak silat, cooperation in film and performances, museum cooperation, and strengthening memorandum of understanding in the cultural field. He also explained the scheme for film cooperation that can be done through co-production mechanisms with partners in Indonesia. Fadli also encouraged Kazakhstani filmmakers’ participation in JAFF Market and Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival as part of strengthening the film ecosystem of the two countries. Fadjroel conveyed the plan for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Indonesia and the cultural forum. ‘In addition to the political forum and business forum, it is also planned to hold a cultural forum that will feature Indonesia-Kazakhstan collaborative art performances,’ he said. He hopes that the planned cultural forum will involve regional governments as well, to present representative and characterful art performances; cooperation is also mapped in developing pencak silat. Not only film, Ambassador Fadjroel opened space for museum cooperation and proposed support for Indonesia’s participation in the international singing competition ‘Voice of Turan’ which is participated by around 20 countries. This participation is viewed strategically to strengthen Indonesia’s cultural top of mind in Central Asia.