UN Secretary-General says batik patterns offer lessons for multilateralism

Jakarta (ANTARA) – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said Indonesian batik offers lessons on how multilateralism should be woven together around the world.

Speaking at the “Foreign Policy Circle Talks” at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Monday, he said batik is a tradition shaped by many external cultural influences, including those from the Arab world, China, Europe, Japan, South Asia and Persia.

“Through these encounters, batik has remained closely connected to Indonesia’s own cultural identity. There is a lesson here for multilateralism,” Guterres said.

He said a batik motif “cannot be frozen in time”: new lines emerge and new colours take their place, creating patterns that are vibrant and rich in form.

Guterres likened the process of creating batik patterns to the way the global community must “create a motif” that better reflects the world as it is today and the world humanity aspires to build.

The global community therefore has a task to create this “batik pattern” through reform of multilateral institutions and mutual support to advance human rights, peace and sustainable development.

He also stressed the importance of ensuring that every country’s aspirations and position are taken into account and accommodated as the world is shaped towards shared goals. “This pattern is ours to shape together,” he added.

During his visit to Indonesia from 17 to 19 October 2026, UN Secretary-General António Guterres held bilateral talks with President Prabowo Subianto, visited the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ Peacekeeping Mission Centre in Bogor Regency, and delivered a speech on multilateralism at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

At his bilateral meeting with President Prabowo in Hambalang, Bogor Regency, Guterres was seen wearing a long-sleeved shirt featuring a parang batik motif.