During a hearing with Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR) at the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday, he unveiled his intention to strengthen the conservation of Indonesian cultural heritages by pursuing UNESCO recognition.
"We are seeking UNESCO recognition of even more (Indonesian cultural heritages)," he told national legislators.
Zon highlighted that Indonesia has identified around two thousand cultural elements as national intangible cultural heritages, while noting that only 13 of them have been recognized by UNESCO.
The minister then emphasized the need to raise the figure, saying he believes that Indonesia is blessed with astounding cultural wealth.
"I believe that our cultural wealth is second to none in the world. Hence, we need to make the most of this wealth by revitalizing waning local traditions, arts, and languages in collaboration with local communities," he said.
He then drew attention to the impact of the presence of sophisticated technologies and pointed to the importance of Indonesians making good use of digital platforms to promote Indonesian culture to international audiences through movies, animations, and video games.
Such innovative ways will help Indonesia stimulate the growth of creative industries that are based on local cultures, he added.
To that end, Zon sought support from all stakeholders, including Commission X, to realize the government's vision of preserving and advancing Indonesian culture in a comprehensive and continuous manner.
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Translator: Putri H, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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