Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy is optimistic that Indonesia would take the lead in promoting ASEAN cultures.

"We, with the largest population and a vast territory, are the older brother among ASEAN countries. We also have cultural wealth, so we should be at the forefront in promoting the ASEAN, especially in the cultural sector," Effendy stated while conversing with reporters on the sidelines of the Eighth ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) meeting in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.

The minister also expressed hope that Indonesia would always be at the forefront in advancing the ASEAN, especially in the cultural sector.

"We hope that we would become a leading brother, so that Indonesia would be the country that leads the way for other ASEAN members," he emphasized.

According to the minister, the AMCA meeting enhanced cultural cooperation, with the objective of introducing the ASEAN to the world and preserving the cultures.

Indonesia hosts the 8th AMCA meeting and related meetings, such as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting for Culture and Arts (SOMCA), AMCA Plus Three meetings (AMCA, China, Japan, and Republic of Korea), and SOMCA Plus Three. The meetings are being held on October 21-25, 2018.

The AMCA meeting is attended by Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports of Brunei Darussalam Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan; Cambodian State Secretary Samraing Kamsan; Thai Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat; and ASEAN Secretary General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi.

Reporting by Martha Herlinawati S
Editing by Libertina, Rahmad Nasution

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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