REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SURABAYA - At least 518 foreign students from 55 countries are ready to promote uniqueness of this country. Director of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Al Busyra Basnur said Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (IACS) had been conducted since 2003.

"They will stay for three months in some areas in Indonesia (to learn Indonesian culture). After that they will promote Indonesian cultures to their countries," Basnur said on Thursday.

On next Sunday night, 69 foreign students selected from 42 countries will perform dance and demonstrate their skills on traditional Indonesian music at Airlangga Convention Center, Surabaya. The event is open to public.

All students are expected to represent Indonesia in promoting cultural diversity. Each one of them has program such as opening a dance study, private language course, interpreters or making a documentary on Indonesia. Basnur said the goal was to embrace all foreign students as friends of Indonesia.

France student who settled in Makassar (South Sulawesi), Charvin Brune said his country currently did not had typical traditional clothes. He wanted to make traditional cloth from Makasar's woven fabric and wore it in France. 

To promote Indonesia, Brune plans to make a documentary about two children from France and Indonesia who communicate with each other through a game. Later, they learn to exchange culture. They do not understand each other's language, but they understand each other through the game.

"Through this film, I want French people to visit Indonesia and enjoy the culture," Brune said. 

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