Indonesia Calls for Culture to Become Global Development Goal

RRI.CO.ID, Bhopal - Indonesia is calling for culture to be recognized as a standalone goal in the global development framework beyond 2030. Indonesian Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, made the call during the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, on Saturday, August 8, 2026.

Held under India’s BRICS chairmanship, the meeting carried the theme “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.” The forum provided an opportunity for BRICS countries to strengthen cultural cooperation as an important element in addressing global challenges and promoting resilient and sustainable development.

Fadli Zon at the meeting expressed his appreciation to the Indian government for its leadership of BRICS in 2026 and voiced Indonesia’s support for the adoption of the Declaration of the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting. He emphasized that BRICS cultural cooperation should be people-centered and inclusive, while being guided by sovereign equality, consensus, and mutual respect.

“Indonesia welcomes the Declaration of the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting as a shared commitment to making culture a strategic force for resilience, innovation, sustainability, and stronger cooperation among BRICS countries,” Fadli Zon said. He noted that technological disruption, economic uncertainty, climate change, and social fragmentation demonstrate that culture is not merely an accessory to development.

Indonesia proposed four key priorities for strengthening cultural cooperation within BRICS. They include safeguarding cultural heritage and cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural objects, strengthening cultural and creative industries, protecting traditional knowledge systems, and recognizing culture as a standalone goal in the global development framework beyond 2030.

“The commitments that have been agreed upon must be translated into concrete, sustainable, and mutually beneficial actions. BRICS cooperation should serve as a bridge connecting creators, communities, institutions, and future generations,” He said.

In line with Indonesia’s proposal, the Declaration of the 11th BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting reaffirmed commitments to strengthening cultural and creative industries, including intellectual property protection and fair remuneration for creators. The declaration also promotes the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence, stronger cultural heritage documentation, the return and restitution of cultural objects, and the protection of traditional knowledge.

The meeting brought together BRICS members India, Indonesia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, Ethiopia, China, Russia, and Iran, as well as BRICS partner countries Cuba, Belarus, Thailand, and Kazakhstan. Through its participation in BRICS, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cultural diplomacy and ensuring that international agreements are translated into concrete, inclusive, sustainable cooperation that benefits future generations.