VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Minister of Foreign Affairs Republic of Indonesia, Retno Marsudi opened the Indonesia Channel 2018 show entitled "The Colors of Beautiful Indonesia" at Taman Ismail Marzuki Grand Theater, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 4th. Indonesia Channel 2018 is a colossal cultural performance of 72 Indonesian friends from 44 countries participating in the Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship Program (BSBI) 2018. The event was simultaneously held to close the scholarship program which has lasted for three months. In his speech, Minister Retno Marsudi said the program is a form of Indonesian soft diplomacy to promote world peace, tolerance and harmony.

"This is the power of soft diplomacy, remember always, soft power charms and disarm, as advances humanity and its potential for a saver, peaceful and more pleasant life. This is the type that Indonesia wants to promote in the midst of the evolving and dynamic challenges that the world is facing today. Hence, this program has become more relevant as one of Indonesian contribution to the world and promoting peace, tolerance, and harmony," Retno Marsudi said.

Minister Retno Marsudi added that out of a total of 72 Indonesian Art and Culture Scholarship Program (BSBI) 2018participants, 13 of them chose to remain in Indonesia and learn more about Indonesian art and culture. They plan to learn bamboo musical instruments and Balinese dance art. In addition, one of them will also write a book about his experience during the BSBI 2018 program. The performance of Indonesia Channel 2018 is an artistic and cultural performance of the study participants of BSBI 2018 program who have different language and cultural backgrounds. For three months BSBI 2018 program participants practiced in Sanggar Semaradana Denpasar, Bali; Rumata Cultural House, Makassar, South Sulawesi; Sayu Sayu Gringsing Studio, Banyuwangi, East Java; Yayasan Seni Gubang, Kutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan; and Art Studio, Music, and Dance Syofyani, Padang, West Sumatra. In addition, the National Development University (UPN) Veteran Yogyakarta is also involved in the training of BSBI 2018 program participants. (VOI/REZHA/AHM)