INDONESIA has stepped up its soft diplomacy efforts in the region, through a meeting of artists, cultural practitioners, and communities in a cultural advancement exhibition.
Thirteen Pacific countries have gathered in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara as Indonesia strengthens cultural diplomacy for regional cooperation.
Indonesia’s Minister of Culture, Dr Fadli Zon, described the event as “a tribute and celebration of the cultural heritage rooted in these islands.”
Zon said this was “a reflection of Indonesia’s commitment to advance culture as a vital force for regional cooperation, connecting communities across the archipelago and the Pacific Ocean.”
Initiated by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, IPACS 2025 brought together delegations from 13 Pacific nations.
The exhibition showcased the vibrant cultural wealth of eastern Indonesia, with artisans, performers, and communities presenting a dynamic fusion of tradition and innovation.
A highlight was the Ministry’s “Listening Track” booth an immersive space where visitors could experience the sounds, stories, and identities that define Indonesia’s maritime and island cultures.
“Hopefully this exhibition can show the cultures and the different ways of living we have here in Indonesia to our friends and families of the Pacific,” Fadil said in an interview with Islands Business.
He also emphasized Indonesia’s deep-rooted connection to the region.
“We have a longstanding relationship with Fiji and the Pacific. Indonesia is part of the Pacific, we have nine provinces here that relate to the Pacific, from Papua to East Nusa Tenggara. We share a common culture and expressions of culture, as well as longstanding political and economic cooperation.”
Participating nations included Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Timor-Leste.
Fadli also recalled his earlier diplomatic engagement with the Pacific.
“We have a very strong relationship between our parliaments. At that time, when I was the Vice Speaker of Parliament, I initiated the Indonesia-Pacific Parliamentary Partnership. We have a very close relationship among legislators, the parliamentarians who represent our people.”
Through IPACS 2025, Indonesia positions culture as both a diplomatic instrument and a driver of sustainable development, weaving together the Pacific’s collective identity through creativity, respect, and enduring friendship.