Indonesia Wants To Join BRICS Online Platform Initiative

Indonesia is keen in participating in the BRICS online platform initiative, Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon has stated, in an interview marking the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Russia and Indonesia.

In October 2024, Olga Lyubimova, the Russian Minister of Culture proposed creating a unified BRICS online platform to share films, TV series, and live broadcasts of cultural events among BRICS member states.

Zon said “This is an excellent initiative. A BRICS online cultural platform would provide a global stage for showcasing the diverse artistic heritage of member countries. We support this idea and look forward to contributing our rich cultural content to the platform.” Indonesia’s membership of BRICS opens new opportunities for cultural exchange, creative collaboration, and global discussions on cultural policy and heritage preservation, he said.

He also highlighted Indonesia’s desire to expand cooperation with Russian museums and explore their shared cultural heritage. “As part of our 75th-anniversary celebrations, Indonesia is actively working with Russia on film screenings, exhibitions, and artistic exchanges. We strongly believe that these cultural engagements strengthen mutual understanding and global cultural diversity.”

Zon noted that Russian literature played an “essential role” in shaping his understanding of history, philosophy and society. He said he considers his Bachelor’s degree in Russian literature a valuable asset that continues to influence his work today.

He also suggested that Russia and Indonesia could work together to nominate sites for the UNESCO cultural heritage list, co-produce cultural documentaries, and exchange archival materials, including films stored by Russian state film archive Gosfilmofond. The Russian Embassy in Jakarta has already provided Indonesia with a selection of Russian films for local audiences, he said, stating that “Film is another powerful medium that can bridge cultures. We aim to increase the visibility of Indonesian films in Russia by participating in Russian film festivals and organizing more screenings.”

He also suggested that Indonesia could establish a center of Indonesian culture in Russia, suggesting that “One of the best ways to promote Indonesian culture in Russia is through immersive experiences. For example, we could explore the creation of an Indonesian Cultural Center (Rumah Budaya) in Russia, serving as a hub for Indonesian arts, heritage, and cuisine. Our ministry is already working on such centers in various countries, and Russia could be among them.”

February 3 this year marked 75 years since diplomatic relations were established between Indonesia and Russia. Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Sergey Tolchenov has said that it is customary for countries to exchange congratulatory messages at the ministerial level on this day. The two nations will hold joint events throughout the year to highlight their long-standing friendship and cooperation. Indonesia joined BRICS as a full member from January 1^st this year and is finalising a free trade agreement with Russia via the Eurasian Economic Union.