Indonesia and India Sign Agreement on Repatriation of Cultural Heritage Objects

January 27, 2025 | 04:38 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has agreed to collaborate on the exchange of cultural heritage objects with the Indian government through the signing of the Indonesia-India Cultural Exchange Program for the period 2025 to 2028.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and Indian Minister of Culture Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat signed the agreement during the celebration of the 76th Republic Day of India held in New Delhi, India. Fadli Zon was present to accompany President Prabowo Subianto who was the guest of honor at the event which took place from 24 to 26 January 2025.

"Through this agreement, Indonesia and India will carry out various cooperation and collaboration in the field of culture," said Fadli Zon after the signing, Sunday, January 26, 2025, quoted from an official statement.

With the establishment of this agreement, the two countries are committed to making efforts to repatriate cultural heritage objects or efforts to return cultural heritage abroad to their country of origin. This is in accordance with what is stated in the Kashi Cultural Pathway at the G20 Ministerial Meeting of Culture in India in 2023.

"The Ministry of Culture supports various efforts such as joint research and studies with India on the importance of repatriating cultural objects, and welcomes inclusive dialogue on efforts to return cultural objects in order to strengthen diplomatic relations between countries," said Fadli Zon.

Through this collaboration, Fadli Zon also intends to develop bilateral relations with India so that it can be an example for other countries, in this case strengthening historical ties and cultural diplomacy.

According to him, Indonesia and India are related in history and culture, even since the fourth century AD. These historical traces, he said, can be seen through various Hindu-Buddhist temples and the Sanskrit language in Indonesia which have a major influence on the development of Indonesian culture, language, and literature.

"For this reason, the Ministry of Culture is trying to develop collaboration in efforts to protect culture and tradition, as well as the development, utilization, and fostering of culture through the protection of traditional knowledge and folklore with India," he said.

With the signing of the agreement, the two countries intend to strengthen cultural relations in various fields, including language and literature, museums, visual arts, performing arts, history, archaeology, anthropology, film, intellectual property rights, and traditional knowledge and folklore. The program is based on the agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Indonesia which was signed on December 29, 1955.

Later, the collaboration will also include the exchange of knowledge and delegations in the fields of traditional and contemporary dance, music, theater, and other performing arts between artists and cultural figures in Indonesia and India. Meanwhile, in the fields of history, archaeology, anthropology, and conservation, Indonesia and India agreed to conduct expert exchanges, research, and joint publications as well as training and cooperation in efforts to conserve cultural heritage.

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