At its best, G20 brings countries together to coordinate action to address global challenges, including safeguarding and protecting culture and heritage across the globe
The Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology led cultural diplomacy for realizing sustainable living through the organization of cultural activities during Indonesia's G20 presidency.
The ministry held the G20 Culture Ministers' Meeting (G20 CMM) in Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the Indonesian ministry reaffirmed its commitment to restoring the arts and culture sector in order to achieve a sustainable future with the help of the Global Arts and Culture Recovery Fund (GACRF) and sustainable living practices.
Through G20 CMM, Indonesia, along with other G20 countries, also strengthened understanding on the importance of joint efforts for creating a better world through the cultural route.
At the meeting, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, Nadiem Anwar Makarim, expressed his appreciation of the delegates for their contributions to G20 activities on culture during this year’s presidency.
“I would like to thank all the delegates who, since the beginning, have shown their active engagement and utmost flexibility to find common ground on how we can work together to create an inclusive and sustainable foundation for growth based on culture," he said.
Through the chair’s summary, Indonesia is seeking to push real commitment and long-term efforts for restoring and maintaining global culture as the basis of global growth and development, he added.
Through the G20 CMM, Indonesia has succeeded in harmonizing delegates’ voices on sustainable living practices as well as encouraging further discussions on the GACRF, which was initiated by Indonesia as a global platform to mobilize gotong-royong (collaboration) for restoring the cultural sector.
The initiative is also expected to support artists and cultural actors, especially during the recovery of the cultural economy after the pandemic ends.
Through the G20 CMM, delegates have also reaffirmed their commitment to sharing knowledge and experiences for restoring the cultural sector, in line with the five priority agendas of this year’s G20 Culture—the role of culture as an enabler and driver of sustainable development; the economic, social, and environmental benefits of culture-based policies; efforts to safeguard culture as a common concern and strengthen the fight against illicit trafficking of cultural property; equitable access to cultural economic opportunities; and international resource mobilization for prioritizing sustainable recovery through the initiation of the GACRF.
Delegates from G20 member countries, special invitees, and international organizations also expressed appreciation for Indonesia's initiative on culture during its presidency.
For instance, a delegate from the Republic of China, Hu Heping, lauded Indonesia for its hard work in organizing the G20 CMM.
"We stand ready to continue to work with all member countries to actively unite and act, and make good use of the platform of the G20 CMM," he said.
Meanwhile, American delegate Lee Satterfield said, “I would like to thank the minister and the entire G20 Indonesia presidency for their work throughout this year to engage the international community to create a culture of sustainable living.”
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"At its best, G20 brings countries together to coordinate action to address global challenges, including safeguarding and protecting culture and heritage across the globe," he added.
Meanwhile, EU delegate Themis Christophidou emphasized the importance of supporting the culture industry during the G20 presidency.
"The work of the Italian and now Indonesia’s G20 presidency has been essential in recalling the need to support the sector at local, national, and international levels," Christophidou stated.
Indonesia will follow up on the deliverables of the G20 CMM at the G20 Summit and take them up at the World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development, or MONDIACULT, which will be convened by the UNESCO in Mexico at the end of September this year.
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Minister Makarim argued that a culture-based policy is key to realizing sustainable development with tangible benefits, not only economic, but also social and environmental.
"By encouraging the diversity of cultural expressions, I believe we can lay the preconditions for a more cohesive and harmonious society and the foundation of culture-based development," he remarked.
His ministry has expressed the hope that all discussions, good practices, and initiatives presented during this year’s G20 Culture, including the GACRF, will be continued by India, the next G20 host.
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