France's President Macron confers award on Indonesia's leader, unveils cultural cooperation agreement
French President Emmanuel Macron lands in Indonesia, signifying the second leg of a six-day tour in Southeast Asia. After discussions with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, the pair embarked on a helicopter journey to Magelang, a city in Central Java nestled amidst mountains.
During their visit, they attended a military parade, and France's highest civilian or military honor, the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, was bestowed upon Prabowo. The recipient, previously a military general, has been accused of human rights violations under former dictator Suharto's rule in the late 1990s. However, he denies these allegations and has never been charged.
While in Magelang, Macron and Prabowo toured the ancient Borobudur Temple, the world's largest Buddhist temple built in the 9th century. It was here that they unveiled a new cultural partnership, fostering artistic and cultural exchange between the two countries. This partnership comprises two main pillars:
- Heritage and Museum Cooperation: This initiative aims to preserve historical sites and enhance mutual understanding through joint conservation efforts and museum collaborations.
- Cultural and Creative Industries: The second pillar entails fostering innovation and cultural exchange in creative industries, such as films, fashion, video games, design, and gastronomy.
Beyond these specific areas, the partnership will also encompass broader cultural activities like art residencies, language programs, and expanding cultural networks. This collaboration intends to create a deeper connection and forge stronger ties between the two countries.
Following this visit, Macron will travel to Singapore to deliver the opening address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's premier security forum. On an earlier occasion, both leaders called for progress on mutual recognition between Israel and Palestinians during a key meeting next month, bringing Indonesia into Macron's diplomatic efforts.
Indonesia maintains a tense relationship with Israel, and support for the Palestinian cause is high among the Indonesia population. During this visit, the nations also signed a series of agreements on cooperation in areas of common interest, including defense, trade, agriculture, disaster management, culture, and transport.
© 2025 AFP
In light of Indonesia's agreement with France on cultural and creative industries, one can expect future collaborations in areas such as film, fashion, video games, design, and gastronomy between both nations. However, despite the newly announced cultural partnership, Indonesia's relationship with Israel remains tense, with the population generally supporting the Palestinian cause.
