RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and France have reaffirmed their commitment to reinforcing strategic cooperation in culture, museums, and heritage management. The commitment was emphasized during a high-level meeting between Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon, and the Ambassador of France to Indonesia, Fabien Penone in Jakarta, Tuesday, 27 January 2026.

The meeting followed a series of cultural agreements reached during recent high-level exchanges between the two countries. Both governments underscored culture as a key pillar of long-term bilateral relations and an increasingly important element of soft-power diplomacy.

During the meeting, Minister Fadli Zon, welcomed Ambassador Fabien Penone and the French cultural task force established to support bilateral cooperation. The task force brought together experts from major French cultural institutions, including Centre des Monuments Nationaux, Grand Palais RMN, and École du Louvre.

Discussions focused on the implementation of six bilateral cultural agreements covering film and audiovisual cooperation, museum partnerships, joint collection research, and initiatives to enhance the economic and educational value of museums and heritage sites.

“Culture has become a central element in high-level exchanges between Indonesia and France. Museums and heritage sites serve as key entry points for long-term cultural diplomacy,” Minister Fadli Zon stated.

The minister also highlighted Indonesia’s growing profile in global archaeology and prehistoric studies. He pointed to recent discoveries of ancient cave art and ongoing revitalization efforts at major heritage sites as opportunities for deeper research, conservation, and scientific collaboration with French institutions.

French Ambassador, Fabien Penone mentioned that Indonesia now occupies a strategic position in global cultural and scientific discourse. He described Indonesia–France cultural cooperation as a model of long-term partnership built on mutual trust, shared expertise, and responsiveness to Indonesia’s development priorities.

Both sides agreed that initial cooperation would prioritize improving museum governance through digital technology, strengthening museum economic models, and expanding professional training. The partnership will also include academic mobility and scholarship programs aimed at building sustainable human resources in Indonesia’s cultural and heritage sector.