The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Emphasizes the Importance of Collaboration with Culture as a Bridge in the 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang

Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Denny Abdi, while attending the series of 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - The Secretary-General of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Denny Abdi, emphasized the importance of collaboration in the current world conditions, with cultural understanding as a bridge for cooperation between nations.

He said this when delivering a keynote speech at the Main Seminar "100 Years of Jam Gadang: From Literacy to Legacy: Building Wealth, Peace and Sustainability Learning" which took place at the Balairuang House of the Mayor of Bukittinggi.

This seminar was held by the Bukittinggi City Government in collaboration with the International Minangkabau Literacy Festival (IMLF) as part of the series of the 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang which was held from June 3 to 21, 2026.

The seminar was opened by the Chairman of the Bukittinggi DPRD, who emphasized the importance of Jam Gadang in Indonesian history as well as its role as a city icon that encourages tourism, culture, and local economy.

In his keynote speech, Secretary General Denny Abdi emphasized that the 100th Anniversary of the Gadang Clock and the holding of IMLF 2026 are a tangible manifestation of Indonesian cultural diplomacy.

Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Denny Abdi, while attending the series of 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Ambassador Denny highlighted how Minangkabau literacy, art, and heritage became a bridge to strengthen global mutual understanding. The growth of IMLF from 12 countries in 2023 to 193 delegates from 37 countries in 2026 shows the world's increasing interest in the intellectual heritage of Minangkabau and opens up new opportunities for collaboration in education, conservation, and cultural exchange.

"In the midst of this world situation, we need to encourage more collaboration and mutual understanding. Nations must work together by making cultural understanding a bridge to stronger cooperation," he explained, launching the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement, Thursday (11/6).

The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also emphasized the great potential of West Sumatra - natural beauty, cultural richness, world cuisine, and its great figures - to continue to be promoted internationally.

He reiterated the commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the Bukittinggi City Government in following up on the results of the forum through international cooperation with partner countries.

The activity was attended by around 100 participants, including the IMLF international delegation, the Director of Public Diplomacy and the Director of Europe 2 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Head of the National Library, DPRD, local government, the literary community, as well as representatives of friendly countries such as the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Deputy Ambassador of Rwanda, Attaché of the Embassy of Bulgaria, and international speakers from the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom through the Country Director of the British Council Jakarta. The British Embassy in London also participated through the Education Attaché.

Secretary General of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Denny Abdi, while attending the series of 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

As part of the IMLF series of activities, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also planted a tree in a 1000-tree planting action aimed at leaving a green environmental legacy, maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, and preserving the environment in Bukittinggi.

In the series of activities, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also delivered a public lecture for 300 students and alumni of Andalas University on June 5, 2026. On this occasion, Secretary General Denny Abdi initiated the signing of the MOU for the Establishment of the Tunnel and Underground Infrastructure Study Center (PUSTROIB), emphasizing the commitment to encourage synergy between the academic world, government, industry, and alumni networks in strengthening national capacity and encouraging sustainable development.

The series of IMLF activities in the context of the 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang was closed on June 7, 2026 through the implementation of the Jam Gadang Fun Run 2026 by the Bukittinggi City Government and IKA Andalas University. This activity was attended by 2,000 participants, including the Dutch Ambassador, the Ambassador of Vietnam, the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Deputy Ambassador of Rwanda.

In his opening remarks at the Fun Run, Secretary General Denny Abdi expressed his appreciation for the support of various parties in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Jam Gadang.

"The spirit of the Fun Run in the context of 100 Years of Jam Gadang is friendship and collaboration. We are very happy with the enthusiasm of the participants, including the presence of ambassadors who reflect this support and spirit."

On the sidelines of IMLF, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also facilitated a meeting between the Mayor of Bukittinggi and the Dutch Ambassador and the Vietnamese Ambassador to explore sister city cooperation, the restoration of Jam Gadang, and cultural exchange programs.