VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The year 2024 has been designated by ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) and China as the ASEAN-China People's Exchanges Year to strengthen mutual exchanges and learning, enrich comprehensive strategic partnerships, and jointly build a peaceful, safe, prosperous and beautiful homeland. and comfortable.

Throughout this year, ASEAN and the Chinese Government, friendly non-governmental organizations, business communities and other entities are encouraged to jointly carry out exchanges and cooperation in the fields of youth, non-governmental, education, culture, tourism, media, science and technology.

As an implementation of this agreement, House of Cartoon mania (HOCA), an organization of cartoon activists and lovers in Indonesia, had the opportunity to visit the Cartoon Museum and Headquarters of the Guangdong Cartoonist Association (GDCA) in Guangdong City and visit several cities in several Chinese provinces.

The HOCA delegation was led by its founder, Yere Agusto (Denpasar) along with four cartoonist members: Tommy Thomdean (Jakarta), Gus Dark (Tabanan), Basuki (Hu Wie Tian-Medan), and Ika W Burhan (Bogor).

HOCA's visit on 15-24 July 2024 to China received support from several parties including the Chinese government, the South China Association for International Friendly Contact (SCAIFC) and the Sasthi Svara Foundation, a non-profit organization of the fields of arts, culture and MSMEs.

While in China, HOCA also visited  places that are still rarely visited by international tourists, such as the Xinjiang Autonomous Region where the majority Uighur muslim community lives.

The main agenda for the HOCA and GDCA meeting is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which has a term of three years and can be renewed. The MoU contains an agreement to become a strategic partner and exchange information on arts and culture, especially in the field of cartoons/comics.

The activities expected to be realized from the signing of this memorandum of understanding include creating cartoon contests and joint exhibitions, cartoonists from both countries can fill in the media in their respective countries, cooperation in making animated films, as well as exchange of cartoonists between the two countries.

It is hoped that with the various activities that will be carried out in the future, the friendship between Indonesian and Chinese cartoonists will become closer and stronger.