"Inter-civilizational dialogue is a crucial effort to bridge differences and build trust between nations," the minister noted in his statement on Friday.
Speaking at a forum, titled "Inter-Civilization Exchanges and Mutual Learning: Global Development and Prosperity," during the Global Civilizations Dialogue Meeting—an initiative by Chinese President Xi Jinping through the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI)—Zon emphasized the importance of preserving the diversity of human civilizations for peace and sustainable global development.
"Through the exchange of knowledge and cross-cultural learning, we can encourage shared peace, progress, and prosperity," he remarked.
Zon also highlighted the outcomes of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's state visit to China in November 2024, which underscored the increasingly close strategic partnership and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
On this occasion, Zon introduced Indonesia as a nation with remarkable cultural diversity, home to more than 1,340 ethnic groups, 718 local languages, and 2,213 nationally recorded intangible cultural heritages (WTWB), as well as over 50 thousand potential WTWB.
He further emphasized Indonesia's significant place in human history, citing the discoveries of Homo erectus and Homo floresiensis at archaeological sites such as Sangiran, Trinil, and Ngandong, along with ancient paintings at Leang-Leang in Maros, South Sulawesi Province.
Zon remarked that Indonesia has demonstrated how differences in ethnicity, religion, culture, and tradition serve as strengths and form a major foundation of the Indonesian national identity.
He further highlighted the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, describing it as a stark example of contemporary genocide of civilization and the erasure of human historical memory.
The minister emphasized that in today's multipolar world, Indonesia remains committed to acting as a bridge for global cooperation, stability, and partnership.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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