Breaking Bread
Four ambassadors on the global stage grace our cover and share about their connected worlds
Beyond talking about good diplomatic relations, Indonesia Tatler also touches upon the lighter side of life with HE Judit Pach, Ambassador of Hungary to Indonesia; HE Kim ChangBeom, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Indonesia; HE Tan Hung Seng, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Singapore to ASEAN; and HE Moazzam Malik, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Indonesia. Edith Emeralda writes
In which areas are Hungary and Indonesia focusing their ongoing and upcoming bilateral programmes? HE Judit Pach: Hungary and Indonesia first established their diplomatic relations in 1955, and we have had an excellent relationship ever since. Our bilateral relationship is marked by high-level visits, such as Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s official visit to Indonesia in 2016, and constant interactions at the ministerial level.
In terms of economic cooperation, we share the same vision to develop bilateral trade and investments that have made some remarkable progress in the past few years—several Hungarian flagship projects in water management and IT are just a few rapidly developing business relationships, among many other fields. We also pay special attention to higher education, with Hungary offering 50 scholarships to Indonesian students every year, and there are Hungarians studying in Indonesia, too. Ahead, I hope that our bilateral relations get even better based on a solid common commitment of mutual trust and mutual interest.
In your opinion, what can Indonesia learn from your country and vice versa? JP: Most Europeans who come to Indonesia have a hard time coping with the cultural differences, but I don’t think that you should change in any way. This is how Indonesia is and this is how we love it. However, I think we could learn some patience and cheerfulness from you.
What are the things to do and places to visit in Hungary? JP: As the Ambassador of Hungary, I obviously speak for my country, but I can tell you why Hungary is one of the best destinations nowadays: it’s beautiful, it’s rich in culture, and it’s affordable. The main attraction is our capital, Budapest, with its marvelous architectural landmarks, urban atmosphere, and vibrant nightlife, but the countryside is also filled with natural beauty and cultural heritage.
Deliciously spicy Hungarian foods and excellent Hungarian wines always make our guests happy. Meanwhile, our thermal baths are some of the world’s finest and we have Central Europe’s largest lake, Balaton, all supported by world-class tourism infrastructure and Hungarian hospitality. The culture is rich and steeped in tradition, folk arts, and age-old crafts that are still produced to this day—the many thousands of Indonesians who visit Hungary every year would surely agree with me.
What do you like about staying in Indonesia?
JP: Since my very first day in Indonesia, I have been impressed by the friendliness and politeness of Indonesians. I also like the diversity of Indonesian culture and admire the deep cultural roots of my Indonesian friends. The food is just as diverse as the culture, and some of the local dishes, like tempe or gado-gado, are my favourites and perfectly complement my vegan diet. I come from a Central European country, so I enjoy the pleasant climate, the endless sunshine, and the beautiful natural environment.
What do you do during your spare time?
JP: Although a lifetime doesn’t seem to be enough, I try to explore Indonesia as much as I can, especially the more remote areas. I love to escape from the city and travel around the country where I can see the wonderful and untouched nature of Indonesia. Besides that, reading is another hobby of mine, and my daily yoga helps me to stay balanced.
Within ASEAN, where are the focus areas today and in the future? HE Tan Hung Seng: ASEAN has thrived in its 50th year with 10 member states maintaining a pivotal role in regional peace and security by promoting the 4 “Cs”: cohesion, credibility, centrality, and connectivity. As ASEAN chairman for 2018, Singapore chose resilience and innovation as the themes to anchor our term. The point is to future-proof ASEAN to face the changes brought on by an ever-evolving geo-strategic environment. In terms of resilience, Singapore is promoting greater cooperation among members to tackle threats such as terrorism, cyber-threats, and natural disasters. By focusing on innovation, my country hopes to catalyse ASEAN to strategically respond to the digital revolution.
In your opinion, what can Indonesia and other ASEAN countries learn from each other? THS: Since ASEAN’S inception in 1967, Indonesia has and will continue to play an important role as the largest economy within the region with more than a third of its population. Moreover, ASEAN has succeeded because all 10 member states recognise that we are better off together. As a highly diverse group, collaboration does not come easily or naturally to ASEAN, which is why various meetings each year enable members to understand each other better and to develop a culture of cooperation.
The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) of 26 pioneer cities is a good example of how each member can bring its own experiences, expertise, and value to link up with each other. Indonesia, with its four of the region’s seven unicorns, has excelled and will be helpful to other states in terms of technopreneurship. Singapore’s Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat once aptly likened the region to a hawker centre where stall owners cooperate and compete, yet each offers something special that makes the whole place a lot more attractive.
What are the things to do and places to visit in Singapore? THS: For Indonesians, Singapore offers a unique proposition as a destination of familiarity and comfort that is less than one-anda-half hours away. It also provides the conveniences of a small city-state with compact and diverse offerings that we work hard on reinventing and developing for you to have novelty with each visit. As the ASEAN chair, Singapore will host this year’s edition of the Best of ASEAN Performing Arts in November to showcase the region’s music talents. Then there’s the seventh Singapore Art Week in January 2019, a nine-day celebration of the visual arts that will take place across Singapore’s art spaces.
What do you like about staying in Indonesia and what will you miss about it now that you are about to move post? THS: My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed our five years of living in Jakarta because of its vibrancy and excitement. We have also enjoyed Bali and Toraja, Borobodur and Prambanan, and the Komodo Island and Bunaken. I will also miss the excellent golfing experience in Jakarta because the mild weather and beautiful golf courses in Sentul and Bogor are easily accessible. Last but not least, we will always remember the warmth and good humour of Indonesians who make us feel welcome wherever we go.
What do you do during your spare time?
THS: I am interested in Southeast Asian art, and Jakarta has many galleries, auction houses, and private collections that give me the chance to expand my horizons and enrich my grasp of the Indonesian arts. I swim regularly and spend time with my family, especially my two daughters who are growing up too quickly.
In which areas are the Republic of Korea and Indonesia focusing their ongoing and upcoming bilateral programmes? HE Kim Chang-beom: There are so many ongoing activities and plans at the moment to expand bilateral cooperation between Korea and Indonesia because we are not just ordinary partners but “Special Strategic Partners”, which means our relations cover a broad range of cooperation from politics to security, economic factors, and many others.
I just came here in February, and already met with several ministers to discuss economic and trade cooperation, with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (KADIN) leaders, with representatives of South Korean and Indonesian companies, and with Korean scholars keen on strengthening ties with Indonesian academia. The highlight was President Joko Widodo and First Lady Iriana’s state visit to Seoul, Korea, this September. President Jokowi were warmly welcomed with a variety of substantial bilateral projects agreed by the two governments, including infrastructure, health and lifestyle sectors, and digital economy.
In your opinion, what can Indonesia learn from South Korea and vice versa? KC-B: We have enjoyed strong diplomatic relations since 1963 based on mutual trust and shared values, and similar histories of pursuing economic growth and maturing democracy. Both our peoples have made remarkable progresses in all these areas over the years. So, the question should be: what could we do together?
We can be partners and friends in bringing steady prosperity for our people. In November 2017, during the summit between President Jokowi and President Moon Jae-in, we agreed to expand trade and to promote people-centred economies and inclusive growth. Many common elements in our respective foreign policies also point to a brighter future in our partnership.
What are the things to do and places to visit in South Korea? KC-B: I am happy to see about a 12 per cent growth in Indonesian tourists visiting Korea in the first half of 2018. Korea has many things to offer for everyone in any generation because it’s a country in which tradition and modernity coexist in harmony. It’s a cradle of high technology and cool electronic gadgets, and the birthplace of glamorous K-pop and fashion, yet also attaches a lot of importance to preserving traditional values and cultures from cuisine to art, and much more. Many similarities exist between our traditional cultures that will make travel to South Korea a comfortable and memorable experience.
What do you like about staying in Indonesia?
KC-B: My wife and I fell in love with Indonesia and its people, which is why we returned to our “second home” after the 13 years since I was first posted at the Korean Embassy in Jakarta in 2003. I am always greeted with sweet smiles, a warm-hearted welcome, and the hospitality of Indonesians—great assets that you should be proud of. We are also impressed by the great, wild nature and potential for eco-tourism in Indonesia from North Sumatra to Kalimantan when we visited the national parks and watched rare tropical birds and orangutan families.
What do you do during your spare time?
KC-B: My wife and I are trying to spend as much time as possible visiting galleries and art exhibitions, and we also play golf together with friends, and with members of JAGA (Jakarta Ambassadors Golf Association).
In which areas are the United Kingdom and Indonesia focusing their ongoing and upcoming bilateral programmes? HE Moazzam Malik: Besides hundreds of years of shared history, the UK and Indonesia are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations next year to mark our wide-ranging partnership. Even in the span of four years under President Joko Widodo, a total of eight memorandums of understanding have been signed with the latest focusing on cyber security—the UK is the first country to have signed such an MOU with Indonesia.
Trade and investment sit at the heart of our relationship with many British businesses present here and a growing number of of Indonesian investors in the UK. We also work together on many other areas from policing to space activity, to sports, which resulted in collaboration at the Asian Games 2018, and so on.
In your opinion, what can Indonesia learn from the UK and vice versa? MM: As the UK grows more diverse, we can learn about diversity from Indonesia. Most countries are homogenous with their populations more or less the same; in the modern world, as people easily move around and migrate, we are learning to live with a growing diversity. Indonesia, however, was born diverse with many different cultures united in one country. To get the story of Indonesia better known in the UK and to get BritishMuslim and Indonesian-muslim communities talking to each other are important themes of my work here.
Indonesia has the potential to be an example to others as a plural, economically dynamic, and democratic country in the global, modern age. The UK, in turn, is a very organised country with strong rule of law, free and open press, a thriving democratic system, and a very strong commitment to internationalism and multiculturalism. We can work together to show that democracy, openess and multilateralism deliver good outcomes for all people.
What are the things to do and places to visit in the UK? MM: We are a diverse country that has many different things to show the world as proven by London’s rank as the secondmost-visited city, in terms of international arrivals, with its great history, culture, art, food, and more. Outside of the capital, you can go to Oxford for its heritage buildings; to the north of England for scenic countryside in the Yorkshire Dales; to Scotland for its Highlands; in Wales, there’s Pembrokeshire; and Northern Ireland is made famous thanks to Game of Thrones. As such, the number of Indonesians going to the UK is increasing each year by about 25 per cent.
What do you like about staying in Indonesia?
MM: I love the smiles and friendliness of the people here, plus the weather is warm and the culture is marvelous. Jogjakarta, for example, I love it as the heart of Javanese culture and also as a melting pot and an educational capital. Other places I’ve enjoyed include Flores, Lombok, Manado, Ternate, and Halmahera with their beautiful nature and wildlife—a very exciting, modern, diverse, and robust country in summary.
What do you do during your spare time?
MM: I listen to a lot of music from many genres, read many novels, go to the cinemas often, love to play tennis, enjoy walking around Jakarta, and I am a big fan of Liverpool FC.