The batik exhibits were the work of nine talented and young ASEAN artists who participated in an Indonesian Arts and Cultural scholarship program in 2007, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said after opening the event.
"While they studied Indonesian traditional music and dance, this batik program is special because Indonesia is holding the ASEAN chairmanship this year," said a spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry Kusuma Habir.
For the ministry, the exhibition was also a promotion for batik as an Indonesian traditional art that has been recognized by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
"The Indonesian government`s aim in granting the batik scholarship courses is to promote the art of Batik," she said.
It was expected to enable the peoples of other ASEAN member countries to know and understand more about Indonesian culture, besides to achieve the ASEAN Community target by 2015.
ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan said on the same occasion that ASEAN had become an important part of the development effortrs of the nations in the region.
The year 2011 was considered special as Indonesia was chairing the Southeast Asian organization
"In this annual event, we usually hold the traditional ASEAN lecture delivered by the head of the government of the association chair in particular year," Surin said.
Earlier in the morning, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono gave a lecture to ASEAN officials who attended the anniversary.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s lecture was themed "ASEAN, the potential of ASEAN, the Future of ASEAN and the significance of ASEAN in the global Landscape".
"We have been the center of attention, gravity, part of important and evolving East Asia`s role, and become more important to the international world," Surin said.
(A050/A014)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
