Some examples of bilateral cooperation in the field of culture that can be reported in this period are the Memorandum of Understandings between the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and the following countries: Belarus (2015), Bulgaria (2016), the Netherlands (2017), Hong Kong (2017), and Saudi Arabia (2017).
In the Memorandum of Understanding in the field of culture between the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands dated 13 February 2017, the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Dutch Government through the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science agreed to strengthen cooperation in the fields of culture and vocational education. In the field of culture, the Netherlands has an edge in the field of management of museums and archives, while Indonesia is rich in tradition and cultural diversity. There are many potential cultural cooperation programmes that can be carried out by the two countries such as Indonesian cultural mission activities to the Netherlands as part of the preparation for the House of Indonesian Culture (Rumah Budaya Indonesia/RBI) in the Netherlands as a center for cultural activities.
Another example is the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region dated 1 May 2017. In the art sector, both governments encourage and stand ready to facilitate the exhibition and promotion of original artworks, assist the mobility of artists and experts to support the organization of exhibitions and promotional activities including support for conducting exhibition exchanges. The MoU also promotes artist residency programmes - both existing and future programmes in the Republic of Indonesia and in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong of the People's Republic of China - and encourages exchanges and cooperation in the field of performing arts.
In the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia and the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed in Bogor on 1 March 2017, the cultural cooperation covers the promotion of culture and art festivals and the cooperation in history and cultural heritage, library and culture for children.
In general, bilateral cooperation in the field of culture is aimed at contributing to the realization of the following National Strategy for Culture (see Goal 1, Main Policies and Measures that Contain Strategies and Frameworks for the Development of the Integrated Cultural and Creative Economy Sector):
1. Provide space for the diversity of cultural expressions and encourage cultural interaction to strengthen the inclusiveness of culture (Agenda 1);
2. Develop and utilize cultural resources to strengthen the position of Indonesia internationally (Agenda 3); and
3. Strengthen the role of government as facilitator in the advancement of culture (Agenda 7).