RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The cultural ties between Indonesia and Central Asia are set for a historic expansion as Culture Minister Fadli Zon moves to position traditional heritage and creative industries at the heart of bilateral relations with Kazakhstan.

Minister Fadli Zon met with the Indonesian Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, Mochamad Fadjroel Rachman, in Jakarta on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. During the meeting, the Minister signaled that culture will serve as a primary bridge for diplomacy ahead of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s state visit.

A central pillar of this collaboration is the elevation of Pencak Silat, the Indonesian martial art, which the Minister emphasized as a vital Intangible Cultural Heritage. He highlighted that the martial art possesses dual dimensions of sport and art, suggesting that Indonesia plans to deploy practitioners to Kazakhstan to strengthen these traditional roots.

“In culture, what we are pushing is the tradition, Silat as an Intangible Cultural Heritage,” said Minister Fadli, as quoted by Antara.

The cinematic landscape is also poised for growth through a proposed co-production mechanism. Minister Fadli encouraged Kazakhstani filmmakers to engage with the Indonesian ecosystem by participating in the JAFF Market and the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival.

Ambassador Fadjroel Rachman confirmed high interest from the Kazakhstani side, revealing that several Indonesian films have already been translated into Russian for local screenings.

He noted that Kazakhstani directors are eager to scout production locations across the Indonesian archipelago, further bridging the two nations through the silver screen.

Beyond film and martial arts, the upcoming presidential visit will feature a collaborative cultural forum designed to transcend standard political and business agendas. Ambassador Fadjroel explained that this forum would showcase collaborative performances between Indonesian and Kazakhstani artists, with a heavy emphasis on involving regional administration to ensure the art displayed is both representative and high-character.

“In addition to the political and business forum agendas, we also plan to hold a cultural forum featuring collaborative Indonesian-Kazakhstani art performances,” clarified the Ambassador.

The two officials also discussed a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation to be signed during President Tokayev’s visit. This agreement is expected to cover museum partnerships and support for Indonesia’s participation in "Voice of Turan," an international singing competition involving approximately 20 countries.

This participation is seen as a strategic move to cement the "top of mind" status of Indonesian culture within the Central Asian region. Such an initiative ensures a lasting influence that reaches far beyond the diplomatic table. ***