YOGYAKARTA SERVES AS CENTER OF CULTURAL EXCHANGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 26 (Antara) - One of  the country's 34 provinces, Yoyakarta, is a special region, famous for  its rich culture, education and attractive tourism destinations.      It also served as the Indonesian capital from 1946 to 1948 during the Indonesian National Revolution, and in the 16th and 17th centuries, Yoyakarta was the seat of the mighty Javanese empire of Mataram.          Thus, it is not surprising if this week Yoyakarta, which is located at the foot of  the active Merapi volcano, was crowned by ASEAN cultural and arts leaders as a center of cultural exchange for those countries grouped in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.          "We will carry out many schemes, including exchanges of artists and experiences, on how to preserve cultures and cultural heritages, both tangible and intangible,"  Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy told reporters on the sidelines of the the 8th meeting of ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) held in Yogyakarta on Wednesday (Oct 24).          The AMCA meeting designated Yogyakarta as an ASEAN City of Culture.  "The most important thing for us is this historical event, in which Yogyakarta is designated as an ASEAN City of Culture for the 2018-2020 term. This is the ASEAN community's recognition of Yogyakarta as an ASEAN City of Culture for the 2018-2020 period," a member of the Indonesian education and culture minister's staff for innovation and competitiveness, Ananto Kusuma Seta, said during a press conference.