Indonesia Promotes Language as Cultural Bridge with Egypt

RRI.CO.ID, Mesir - Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, has highlighted the role of the Indonesian language in strengthening cultural ties between Indonesia and Egypt, particularly through education at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. He made the remarks during a public lecture attended by around 250 undergraduate students of the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program at Al-Azhar’s Faculty of Languages and Translation on Sunday September 20, 2026.

Fadli Zon said language is more than a means of communication, as it provides an entry point for understanding a nation’s culture, history, identity, and way of thinking. “Language is not merely a means of communication; it is a gateway to understanding the culture, history, way of thinking, and identity of a nation,” he said.

The minister welcomed Al-Azhar’s establishment of an Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program in October 2025, describing it as a strategic step to strengthen educational and cultural relations between Indonesia and Egypt. He also expressed appreciation for the students’ interest in studying Indonesian at one of the world’s oldest and most influential Islamic educational institutions.

Fadli encouraged the students to see themselves as part of a cultural bridge between the two countries. He said that learning Indonesian also means learning about Indonesian society, history, and cultural diversity. “You are part of the cultural bridge between Indonesia and Egypt,” he told the students.

During the lecture, Fadli also highlighted the potential for Indonesian to expand its presence as an international language, supported by its large number of speakers both in Indonesia and overseas communities. “Indonesian has a very large number of speakers, and this is a strength that we should develop so that Indonesian becomes increasingly known, studied, and used internationally,” he said.

He expressed the aspiration for Indonesian to gain a stronger position in the international community, including the possibility of becoming an official language of the United Nations in the future. Fadli said the growing number of people learning Indonesian could also create more opportunities to introduce Indonesia’s culture to international audiences.

Fadli also encouraged the students to study Indonesia beyond its language and literature, including its history, arts, traditions, cuisine, and contemporary cultural developments. He highlighted Indonesia’s diversity, with more than 1,300 ethnic groups and over 700 regional languages, which coexist under the national principle of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, or Unity in Diversity.

The minister also emphasized the long-standing historical ties between Indonesia, Egypt, and Al-Azhar, noting that Indonesian scholars and students had traveled to Egypt to pursue knowledge long before Indonesia gained independence. He recalled that Egypt was the first country to recognize Indonesia’s independence and said bilateral relations have continued to develop through historical milestones including the Asian-African Conference and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Fadli called on the students to contribute to the future of cultural relations between Indonesia and Egypt by deepening their knowledge of Indonesian language, literature, history, and culture. “Every time you use the Indonesian language and speak about Indonesia, you are becoming part of the bridge connecting the people of Egypt and Indonesia,” he said, adding that the longstanding relationship between Al-Azhar and Indonesia should continue to grow through younger generations.