Indonesia will conduct cultural diplomacy at Europalia, Europe largest art and cultural festival to be held from October 10, 2017, to January 21, 2018. [...] The Europalia International is optimistic that the participation of Indonesians in the festival would strengthen relations between Indonesia and the European countries and also enhance mutual understanding among the people.

The first group of 24 teachers, students, as well as activists from senior high schools, colleges and NGOs in Moscow, Russia have arrived in Jakarta to join the activities of Indonesian Competency Enhancement. [...] Ambassador Wahid believes that cultural diplomacy activities like this can be developed because it will help make ties of the two countries closer.

Indonesia is promoting the annual Bali Arts Festival (PKB) by digitalizing its month-long activities and broadcasting live on particular website as well as in various social media channels. The breakthrough move came at the request of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who wanted to make people across the world know more about the festival, a senior official overseeing the Bali provincial tourism said.

The digital ambassador, who will lead the Danish foreign policy initiative dubbed ‘tech diplomacy’, was named on Friday as Casper Klynge, the current Danish ambassador to Indonesia.The digital ambassador will be based in Silicon Valley, California, but will have a global mandate to promote the tech agenda internationally and is therefore expected to frequently visit global technology hubs as well as engage actively with stakeholders in Denmark, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with experts from the Center for Digital Society Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), held a joint study on the future of digital diplomacy for Indonesia. More than 30 experts in diplomacy and information communication technology, as well as 100 observers, consultants, academics, and foreign diplomats, participated in the Experts Meeting on Diplomacy, which was held in the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM, Wednesday.

Indonesia is seeking to promote diversity for global harmony through the Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (IACS) 2017 program by inviting 60 international students from 47 countries.The IACS, or locally known as the BSBI, has been organized since 2003 and is aimed at showcasing Indonesia's commitment to enhancing cooperation in social and cultural fields around the world. From 2003 until 2016, the scholarship has been awarded to 718 alumni from 63 countries.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi will seek to strengthen Indonesia's existing strategic partnership with the United States, following heartening signs from the White House regarding its ongoing commitment in the Asia-Pacific. "Indonesia is ready to fortify its [ties] with the US through mutually beneficial cooperation," Retno said in a statement upon her arrival in Washington DC, late on Wednesday local time.

The Foreign Ministry, in cooperation with the Riau Islands provincial administration, plans to make the archipelagic province a hub for Indonesia’s economic diplomacy. Riau Islands province comprises 2,408 islands, including Natuna Islands, a stretch of resource-rich islands jutting at the frontiers of the South China Sea and bordering Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore and Malaysia.