Indonesia is urging stronger cultural cooperation among BRICS members, which include Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Culture Minister Fadli Zon conveyed this at the XI BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting in Madhya Pradesh, India, on Saturday (8/8).
Fadli said BRICS cultural cooperation needs to be people-oriented, inclusive, and grounded in the equality of sovereignty, consensus, and mutual respect. According to him, global challenges such as technological disruption, economic uncertainty, climate change pressure, and social fragmentation show that culture is not merely a complement to development but a foundation that can strengthen societal resilience and drive innovation.
Indonesia proposed four main agendas for strengthening BRICS cultural cooperation. First, strengthening the protection of cultural heritage and cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural artefacts. Second, strengthening cultural and creative industries by placing artists and creators at the centre of the ecosystem. Third, protecting systems of traditional knowledge with the participation of knowledge-holding communities. Fourth, placing culture as a distinct goal within the framework of global development after 2030.
The Declaration of the XI BRICS Culture Ministers' Meeting affirmed the shared commitment to strengthening cultural and creative industries with protection of intellectual property rights and fair remuneration for creators. The countries also stressed the importance of strengthening provenance documentation and cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural artefacts, and enhancing cooperation among museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions.
Fadli said the commitments that have been agreed upon need to be translated into concrete, sustainable, and mutually beneficial steps. The meeting was attended by delegations from India, Indonesia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Ethiopia, China, Russia, Iran as well as representatives from Cuba, Belarus, Thailand, and Kazakhstan as BRICS partner countries.
