Jakarta, October 12, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesia and France have agreed to strengthen bilateral cultural cooperation, focusing on promoting Indonesian culture in France, preserving cultural heritage, revitalizing historical sites, and expanding collaboration in film, museums, literature, music and contemporary arts.
Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon said the two countries shared a long-standing and rich cultural relationship, which both sides sought to transform into a more concrete and reciprocal partnership.
“Indonesia and France have a long and very rich cultural relationship. We want this partnership to become more concrete, reciprocal, and give wider space for people of both countries to learn about each other’s cultural wealth,” Zon said in a statement received here on Monday.
During a meeting with French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard in Paris on October 7, Zon outlined several initiatives aimed at enhancing the visibility of Indonesian culture in France.
The proposed programmes include Indonesian music concerts and recitals, a fashion exhibition highlighting the country’s traditional textile heritage and contemporary creativity, and an exhibition of Indonesian fine arts.
Zon noted that cultural cooperation under the 2025 Borobudur Declaration continued to progress, emphasizing the need to translate existing commitments into practical initiatives that would enable people in both countries to gain a deeper understanding of each other’s cultural heritage.
Regarding heritage preservation, Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture will renew its collaboration with the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH) Foundation following the successful conservation of the Wapauwe Mosque in Maluku in 2025.
The ministry plans to work with the foundation on the revitalization of 10 priority heritage projects across eight provinces.
The projects include Tjong A Fie Mansion in North Sumatra, a Betang longhouse in West Kalimantan, Jakarta’s Kota Tua (Old Town) district and Maritime Museum, Borobudur Temple in Central Java, Sendangduwur Village in East Java, and Leang Karampuang Cave in South Sulawesi.
Other initiatives cover the Mabur vernacular house in East Nusa Tenggara, Santo Petrus and Paulus Church, Kaitetu Traditional Village and the Rumphius Museum in Maluku.
Zon also underscored the importance of strengthening conservation efforts at Borobudur Temple, particularly protecting its historic reliefs from environmental pressures and the effects of climate change.
Meanwhile, Indonesia and France are advancing cooperation to improve heritage conservation and museum management capacities through France’s Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN), which is responsible for managing and preserving the country’s historic monuments.
In the film industry, Indonesia is pursuing the establishment of the Indonesia International Film Co-production Fund, which is targeted to become operational in 2027 with technical support from France’s National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC).
The two countries are also preparing to hold the third Indonesia-France Film Lab at the JAFF Market, while discussions are underway to strengthen Indonesia’s presence at the Cannes Film Festival in 2028.
The initiatives reflect the two countries’ commitment to expanding cultural exchanges, safeguarding historical heritage and fostering collaboration across creative industries.
