Meeting Indian Foreign Minister, Minister Of Culture Fadli Zon Condolences For The Terror Of Mataharis And Encourages The Restoration Of Prambanan Temple

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. (IST)

MUMBAI - Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, Fadli Zon, expressed his condolences for the terror attack on koron when meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Thursday, (1/5) on the sidelines of the World Audiovisual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 in Mumbai.

Menbud Fadli Zon expressed his sympathy for the name of the Indonesian government regarding the attack on Baisaran Meadow, near Palaligam, on April 22, which killed 26 people. He emphasized Indonesia's solidarity with India and the importance of international cooperation in maintaining peace and security.

Indonesia stands with India in the face of this tragedy. We believe that cultural collaboration and global solidarity are the keys to reducing extremism," said Fadli at the bilateral meeting as quoted in a written statement received Friday, May 2.

Apart from expressing grief, Fadli also discussed a number of concrete steps to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the field of culture. One of them is a follow-up to the Cultural Exchange Program (CEP) which was signed during President Prabowo Subianto's visit to India in January 2025. This program includes cultural performances, exhibitions, academic exchanges and youth, as well as film and music collaborations.

Fadli proposed the cooperation of film co-production, documentaries, and music as part of strengthening CEP. He considered that the cultural industry should become a new motor of diplomacy between the two countries.

During the meeting, Fadli also mentioned India's offer to help restore Prambanan Temple, a commitment delivered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a previous bilateral meeting with President Prabowo. He invited the Indian conservation team to come directly to Prambanan to accelerate the realization of the cooperation.

This restoration can be a symbol of friendship between two great civilizations. Preservation of cultural heritage is not only a national responsibility, but also a global mandate, "said Fadli.

The meeting also highlighted the legacy of history with Indonesia-India as the initiator of the 1955 Asia Africa Conference (KAA). Fadli emphasized the relevance of Dasasila Bandung's spirit in strengthening South's Global solidarity and building a fairer world order.

"In a world that is increasingly polarized, cooperation in culture and history together is the most powerful weapon against global fragmentation," he said.