Foreign Ministry to revitalize Asian-African Conference Museum

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is preparing for the revitalization of the Museum of the Asian-African Conference (MKAA), the historic venue where the Ten Principles of Bandung were adopted in 1955.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently in the preparation stage of developing a master plan for the historical area of the Asian-African Conference," the ministry's spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkang, informed on Thursday (July 9).

The revitalization of the MKAA ecosystem will include the preservation, digitization, and optimization of archives and collections related to the Asian-African Conference.

In addition, the revitalization project also extends to the development of a heritage area connecting key sites associated with the 1955 Asian-African Conference.

According to Yvonne, the MKAA revitalization efforts will be carried out in collaboration with several friendly countries, particularly those involved in the Asian-African Conference.

"This development plan is a concrete effort to preserve the Spirit of Bandung and the values of the Asian-African Conference," she remarked.

On June 17-19, 2026, the ministry's Director-General of Information and Public Diplomacy, Heru Subolo, visited Japan to explore socio-cultural cooperation, including the development of the historical area of the Asian-African Conference (MKAA), with Japanese partners.

During the visit, Subolo met with the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan Foundation (JF), the National Archives of Japan (NAJ), and the Japan Center for Asian Historical Records (JACAR).

According to him, both NAJ and JACAR welcomed the opportunity for collaboration with Indonesia, particularly regarding the preservation, digitization, and utilization of archives from the Asian-African Conference for research, education, and public diplomacy.

Meanwhile, the Head of MKAA, Noviasari Rustam, said Japan has expressed its readiness to support the museum's capacity building, including human resource development and improved access to information for international visitors.

"The MKAA will also collaborate with NAJ and JACAR regarding the digitization and utilization of KAA archives for education and public diplomacy," she noted.

MKAA is also exploring technical cooperation with the Tokyo National Museum, including the exchange of expertise on public engagement programs, she added.

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Translator: Nabil Ihsan, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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