Culture is not only a heritage but a great capital for the nation in the future.

JAKARTA - Culture is an identity and foundation that shapes the character of a nation. In the midst of an increasingly strong globalization, the preservation and development of culture is the key to keeping local values alive and able to adapt to the times without losing their identity.

Fadli Zon emphasized that community collaboration in advancing culture is an important capital so that a nation can continue to survive and develop in the future. According to him, the active role of all levels of society, especially the younger generation, is needed to cultivate cultural awareness as the basis for national development.

"We can only achieve cultural progress if we work together, with the awareness that culture is the main strength and capital of the nation in the future," he said in a press statement.

The statement was delivered in a cultural oration when opening the Cultural Titles and Works of the Nation event held by Sebelas Maret University in Surakarta, Central Java. On that occasion, he emphasized that culture is not only a heritage, but also a strategic strength that needs to continue to be developed as a constitutional mandate.

He also highlighted Indonesia's rich and diverse culture, ranging from thousands of ethnic groups, hundreds of regional languages, to various forms of cultural expression. This wealth is not only limited to art, but also includes oral traditions, manuscripts, rituals, traditional knowledge, and even cuisine, which makes Indonesia worthy of being called a country with mega-cultural diversity.

According to him, efforts to promote culture must continue to be carried out so that diversity is maintained and not eroded by the development of time. On the other hand, culture also has an important role as a tool for diplomacy and economic drivers at the global level.

Learning from other countries that have managed to popularize their culture internationally, he is optimistic that Indonesia is also able to create an "Indonesian wave" through the appropriate and sustainable use of cultural wealth.

One of the important steps that needs to be taken is to bring culture into the digital space. However, he reminded that digitization must still pay attention to cultural values and contexts so as not to lose its original meaning.

He also emphasized several important principles, including increasing digital cultural literacy, protection for cultural actors in the digital economic ecosystem, and strengthening archives and cultural databases as strategic foundations in the era of technology.

In addition, he appreciated the organization of cultural events in the context of the 50th anniversary of Sebelas Maret University which raised the theme "Weaving the Rainbow of Nusantara Culture". Various activities were displayed, ranging from traditional art performances, exhibitions of archives and cultural collections, to the involvement of creative business actors.

The theme is considered to reflect the strong commitment of the world of education in maintaining and developing culture as an important part of national life.