RRI.CO.ID, Beijing - The Indonesian Culinary Festival took center stage in Beijing this week, launching a two-week gastronomic showcase at JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Central running from August 5 to 16, 2026, aimed at strengthening cross-cultural diplomacy and promoting Indonesian tourism.

Organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Beijing in partnership with Warisan Roemah Indonesia, the flagship festival brings authentic archipelagic flavors to the Chinese capital.

The menu features iconic dishes such as rendang, gado-gado, gohu tuna, bakso, assorted satay, and nasi goreng kampung, alongside traditional desserts like pisang goreng, dadar gulung, and kue cantik manis. To ensure culinary authenticity, Executive Sous Chef Yuli Hartanto from JW Marriott Surabaya was specially brought to Beijing to oversee the kitchen.

Alongside the dining experience, the festival features cultural performances, including the traditional Tor Tor dance performed by Indonesian students in Beijing, and showcases priority tourism destinations such as Mount Bromo, Banyuwangi, Ijen Crater, Wae Rebo, and Pink Beach. China remains a primary market for Indonesian spice exports, including cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon, and contributed roughly 1.3 million tourist visits to Indonesia in 2025.

Key figures involved in the initiative highlighted that authentic cuisine serves as a powerful instrument for soft diplomacy, fostering mutual understanding and cultural appreciation between nations.

Indonesian Ambassador to China and Mongolia Djauhari Oratmangun emphasized the role of culinary heritage in diplomatic engagement.

"Indonesia has been known for centuries as the spice center of the world, with its rich spices giving vibrant flavors not only to foods across our islands but also in other nations, serving decades as a diplomat, I have often witnessed complex negotiation agreements reached not through formal meetings, but around the dining table, where dialogue and mutual understanding develop while enjoying warm coffee or delicious food," Ambassador Djauhari Oratmangun said during the opening ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

General Manager of JW Marriott Hotel Beijing Central Wang Huan expressed enthusiasm for hosting the cultural showcase. "Food has a unique ability to bring people together, and this festival is our way of honoring Indonesia's rich culinary heritage while strengthening the bonds between our two cultures," Wang Huan noted.

Executive Sous Chef at JW Marriott Surabaya Yuli Hartanto shared his pride in presenting Indonesia's heritage to an international audience. "Indonesian cuisine reflects the rich, warm, and diverse cultural heritage deeply rooted in togetherness, I am honored to bring authentic Indonesian food with its varied cultural backgrounds to Beijing and share the flavors of my homeland with the people here," Chef Yuli Hartanto expressed. ***