Indonesian Culture Minister Fadli Zon (right) meets with Chairman of China State Construction International Holdings Limited (CSCI) Gao Bo in Jakarta. ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Culture

Culture Minister Fadli Zon highlighted that Indonesia envisions the planned medication center emerging as more than a health facility but also as a platform to display cultural expressions.

“We truly welcome the idea of establishing a traditional medicine center in Indonesia,” he said in a statement cited in Jakarta on Thursday.

On that note, Zon pointed to Indonesia’s strength in wellness culture, primarily represented by jamu, an umbrella term for traditional herbal drinks already recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The minister expressed confidence that opportunities are wide open for Indonesia and China to expand their collaboration into the development or reconstruction of cultural and historic sites and buildings.

“Cooperation in developing and revitalizing historic buildings could be a key focus in this bilateral partnership. On cultural affairs, there is huge potential to develop old towns in various regions across Indonesia,” he stated.

Zon further hinted at plans for the Ministry of Culture's side to follow up on the opportunities with further talks with other ministries and agencies in Indonesia.

He then emphasized that his institution is committed to fostering a more enabling ecosystem for cultural promotion and preservation through infrastructure development and revitalization of heritage sites.

CSCI Chairman Gao Bo, for his part, underlined that the two sides may expand the cooperation beyond infrastructure development to joint efforts aimed at improving human resource quality with respect to culture.

“In addition to design, concept, and planning, a development project requires awareness of the cultural characteristics of the local community in the construction region,” he said.