Indonesia-Timor-Leste Jajaki Joint Nomination of Cultural Heritage to UNESCO

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon discussed the opportunity to manage intangible culture when meeting with the Secretary of State for Arts and Culture of Timor-Leste Jorge Soares Cristóvão at the Ministry of Culture Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 12.

JAKARTA - Indonesia and Timor-Leste are exploring a joint application for intangible cultural heritage to UNESCO. The plan emerged because the two countries have a number of cultural similarities, especially in border areas.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon discussed these opportunities when meeting with the Secretary of State for Arts and Culture of Timor-Leste Jorge Soares Cristóvão at the Ministry of Culture Office, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 12.

"Because there are many cultural similarities, we can explore the possibility of joint nomination of intangible cultural heritage to UNESCO," said Fadli.

He also invited young artists from Timor-Leste to participate in a cultural residency program at the Yogyakarta Institute of Arts and Culture through the Indonesia-Pacific Cultural Synergy.

Jorge welcomed the opportunity for joint nomination. According to Fadli, the cultural connection between the two countries is quite strong, especially in the community living in the border area.

"In terms of culture, we cannot separate Timor-Leste, especially the people in the border area, because the culture in that area is already integrated," he said.

Cooperation is also directed at traditional music and fabrics that have cultural ties in both countries.

In addition to UNESCO, Indonesia and Timor-Leste discussed cooperation between museums and libraries. Timor-Leste plans to complete the construction of the National Library next year and the National Museum in mid-2028.

Jorge said Timor-Leste hopes to receive training from Indonesia in library management, cataloging, museums, and collections.

Fadli stated that the Ministry of Culture was open to sending experts if needed, including for exhibition management and collection management.

The two countries also discussed the reactivation of the Indonesian Cultural House in Dili as well as plans to transform the Timor-Timor Museum in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah into an Indonesian-Timor-Leste Friendship Museum.

The meeting also discussed the preparation of a memorandum of understanding or MoU as the basis for further cooperation.

Indonesia on that occasion also expressed its appreciation for Timor-Leste's support for Indonesia's candidacy as a member of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee for the period 2026-2030.