Jakarta (ANTARA) – The governments of Indonesia and Iran have begun exploring ways to expand bilateral cooperation in culture, particularly in film, literature, heritage, and people-to-people exchanges.
Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon and Iranian Deputy Culture Minister Mohsen Javadi discussed the matter during bilateral talks on the sidelines of the BRICS Culture Ministers’ Meeting in Bhopal, India, on Saturday (Aug. 8).
“Indonesia and Iran have enjoyed enduring relations, especially in cultural affairs. We need to renew and strengthen our ties through more concrete cooperation,” Fadli said in a statement cited here on Sunday.
The two sides discussed extending the four-year Indonesia-Iran Cultural Exchange Program, expiring in 2026, to maintain a foundation for broader joint initiatives in heritage, museums, literature and translation, film, creative industries, and human resources.
Fadli proposed co-producing films and exchanging filmmakers to deepen connections between Indonesians and Iranians.
He noted that the two countries had already demonstrated creative ties through the 2026 Indonesian adaptation of the 1997 Iranian film Children of Heaven.
The minister also welcomed Iran’s invitation for Indonesia to participate in future editions of the Tehran International Book Fair.
Furthermore, he commended Iran for its leading role at UNESCO and sought stronger collaboration following Indonesia’s election to the organization’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2026-2030 period.
He voiced Indonesia’s eagerness to join Iran in co-nominating the Islamic tradition of iftar, which marks the breaking of the fast, for inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Javadi welcomed the prospect of extending the Indonesia-Iran Cultural Exchange Program to broaden cultural cooperation into wider initiatives.
He expressed confidence that the two countries could elevate ties through films, literature, music education, and cultural tourism by leveraging their shared characteristics and cultural values.
Concluding the meeting, Fadli and Javadi expressed a shared commitment to turning those cooperation opportunities into concrete programs aimed at deepening bilateral ties.
Related news: Indonesia, South Africa deepen cultural ties over Sheikh Yusuf
Translator: Farika Nur, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
Copyright © ANTARA 2026