Kemenlu-RI, Dorong Papua Perkuat Soft Power Diplomasi Indonesia di kawasan Pasific

JAYAPURA — Kementerian Luar Negeri RI mendorong Papua menjadi bagian dari kekuatan soft power diplomasi Indonesia, khususnya dalam memperkuat hubungan dengan negara-negara kawasan Pasifik. Hal tersebut disampaikan Duta Besar Heru Subolo, Dirjen Informasi dan Diplomasi Publik, saat bertemu jajaran Pemerintah Provinsi Papua. [24/8]

Menurutnya, potensi Papua di bidang budaya, pendidikan, kesehatan, ekonomi, riset, olahraga dan berbagai potensi daerah lainnya perlu diperkuat melalui informasi, publikasi dan promosi ke luar negeri untuk membangun narasi positif serta meningkatkan citra Indonesia di mata internasional. “Potensi yang ada di daerah perlu kita dorong menjadi bagian dari diplomasi publik Indonesia,” ujarnya.

Wakil Gubernur Papua Aryoko Rumaropen, menyampaikan apresiasi atas kunjungan Kementerian Luar Negeri sekaligus menjelaskan kekhususan geografis dan kultur Papua, terutama di wilayah perbatasan Indonesia–Papua Nugini. 

Menurutnya, kedekatan sosial dan budaya masyarakat di kedua negara merupakan modal penting untuk memperkuat hubungan antar masyarakat. “Kami telah menggagas sejumlah kegiatan di kawasan perbatasan untuk mempererat persaudaraan dua negara, sehingga perbatasan tidak hanya menjadi batas wilayah, tetapi juga ruang untuk membangun kerja sama dan persahabatan,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Kepala Dinas Olahraga dan Pemuda Provinsi Papua Laorens Wantik mendorong agar Papua dapat dikembangkan sebagai hub diplomasi Indonesia melalui olahraga dan pariwisata bagi negara-negara Pasifik. Menurutnya, posisi geografis, potensi venue olahraga bertaraf internasional,  kekayaan budaya dan destinasi wisata Papua dapat menjadi sarana memperkuat hubungan antar masyarakat sekaligus membuka ruang promosi Indonesia di kawasan Pasifik. “Kami berharap Papua dapat menjadi hub diplomasi melalui olahraga dan pariwisata, sehingga interaksi dengan negara-negara Pasifik semakin kuat dan potensi Papua semakin dikenal di tingkat internasional,” ujarnya.

Pertemuan tersebut turut dihadiri Acep Somantri, Staf Ahli Menteri Luar Negeri Bidang Hubungan Kelembagaan, dan Hendra Oktavianus, Direktur Informasi dan Media Kementerian Luar Negeri, bersama jajaran Pemerintah Provinsi Papua. Pertemuan ini menjadi bagian dari upaya memperkuat sinergi pusat dan daerah dalam membangun diplomasi publik, memperluas promosi potensi Papua, serta memperkuat peran Papua sebagai salah satu pintu diplomasi Indonesia di kawasan Pasifik. ***

JAYAPURA — The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is encouraging Papua to become part of Indonesia’s soft power diplomacy, particularly in strengthening relations with countries in the Pacific region. The statement was made by Ambassador Heru Subolo, Director General of Information and Public Diplomacy, during a meeting with the Papua Provincial Government on August 24.

According to him, Papua’s potential in culture, education, healthcare, the economy, research, sports, and various other sectors needs to be strengthened through international information dissemination, publication, and promotion. These efforts are expected to build a positive narrative and enhance Indonesia’s image internationally.

“The potential that exists in the regions needs to be encouraged to become part of Indonesia’s public diplomacy,” he said.

Papua Deputy Governor Aryoko Rumaropen expressed his appreciation for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visit while explaining Papua’s unique geographical and cultural characteristics, particularly in the Indonesia–Papua New Guinea border region.

According to him, the close social and cultural ties between communities in the two countries are an important asset for strengthening people-to-people relations.

“We have initiated several activities in the border areas to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries, so that the border is not merely a territorial boundary, but also a space for building cooperation and friendship,” he said.

Meanwhile, Head of the Papua Provincial Youth and Sports Agency Laorens Wantik encouraged the development of Papua as a hub for Indonesian diplomacy through sports and tourism for Pacific countries.

He said Papua’s geographical position, potential international-standard sports venues, cultural richness, and tourism destinations could serve as means of strengthening people-to-people relations while creating opportunities to promote Indonesia throughout the Pacific region.

“We hope Papua can become a diplomatic hub through sports and tourism, so that interaction with Pacific countries becomes stronger and Papua’s potential becomes increasingly recognized internationally,” he said.

The meeting was also attended by Acep Somantri, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Institutional Relations, and Hendra Oktavianus, Director of Information and Media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with officials from the Papua Provincial Government.

The meeting was part of efforts to strengthen central–regional synergy in developing public diplomacy, expanding the promotion of Papua’s potential, and strengthening Papua’s role as one of Indonesia’s gateways for diplomacy in the Pacific region. ***