1. Nahdlatul Ulama - NU
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), whose origins and the social life of Indonesian Islam provide full and dynamic support for Indonesia's role on the international stage. The Islamic perspective of Nahdlatul Ulama, which is based on Ahlusunnah wal Jamaah Islam and Sufism, provides a foundation for Islam Nusantara (Islamic archipelago) or Indonesia, which is based on tolerant and just values.
NU is a globally influential Islamic organization, with more than 125 million followers, 21,000 Pesantrens , and 200 universities. Over one million Banser militias Soldiers. NU is an essential pillar of Indonesian society and one of the key intellectual and social foundations of Indonesian nationalism. NU, along with the Indonesian people and government, participates in this global discussion and dialogue.
2. Abdurrahman Wahid
Abdurrahman Wahid was one of NU famous leaders, also known as Gus Dur. He also served as president of the Republic of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001. He was of Chinese descent and once asked expert of China to research his grandparents origins in China. He was the only one who lifted or deleted all restrictions and discrimination against Chinese people in Indonesia during his administration. Chinese had previously been severely discriminated against by the Soeharto administration.
NU is now open to collaboration in various fields, including trade, industry, and technology, culture. Many young NU members are studying in Tiongkok Now. As an NU leader and academic, I am currently collaborating with the Zheng He Museum and Culture in Melaka to conduct research on Chinese cultural heritage and Zheng He in Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
3. Changes Of Human Values
Humanity is facing uncertainty not only in politics due to geopolitical changes, but also in core human values, which are also changing. Advanced technology has transformed human character. Humans no longer tend to pursue harmony and living together, but instead rely on technology, which is fundamentally selfish and monopolistic.
4. Humanities
Therefore, many people, scientists, and wisdom experts are concerned about the occurrence of dehumanization.
However, on the other hand, globalization has provided an opportunity for various nations and social groups, including religions and cultures, to contribute to a new direction for a more humanistic world in the postmodern sense.
5. National Choice
Therefore, the world's nations are now required to express their choices within the various options available.
Nations with different history and traditions but shared concerns are also required to collaborate to contribute strongly and collectively.
6. Oriental Road
Eastern nations are nations that, over a long history, have possessed their own models of knowledge and wisdom beyond those currently mainstream in the world, which are primarily sourced from the modern West.
Amidst open and fierce competition, yet equal opportunities, particularly due to increasingly strong technological and economic political power, the experiences of Eastern nations are crucial to collaborate with to transcend the current mainstream and address these dehumanizing tendencies.
Indonesia is a large nation with a population of over 280 million, with hundreds of years of experience fostering harmony across ethnicities, religions, islands, kingdoms and sultanates, and strong and dynamic local traditions.
7. Oriental Collaboration
Before the 16th century, the close connections between the Nusantara and Tiongkok played a vital role Oriental trade. Indonesian spices and Chinese ceramics together formed the famous “Spice Road” and “Ceramic Route,” which China referred to as the Maritime Silk Road, and which UNESCO collectively designates as the Silk Roads.
The discovery of the Tang Dynasty Belitung Shipwreck and the Five Dynasties Cirebon Shipwreck in Indonesia provides strong evidence of the prosperity of Eastern maritime trade. When Cheng Ho’s (Zheng He’s) voyages reached the Indonesian Archipelago, they not only played a crucial role in commerce but also had a significant influence on the Islamization of Java and Indonesia, as many Chinese Muslims accompanied Cheng Ho to Java.
The architectural features of ancient Javanese mosques reveal clear influences from Chinese architecture. In Semarang, the helmsman, cook, and iron anchor left behind by Cheng Ho are jointly venerated by both Chinese and Javanese Muslims. In 2024, Indonesia’s Ministry of Culture officially inscribed the Cheng Ho Pilgrimage Ceremony in Semarang on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
8. Reviving Collaboration between Muslims and Confucians
There are no stories of hatred, violence, or war between local residents and Chinese immigrants. Tensions and even violence against ethnic Chinese occurred during the Dutch colonial era because the Dutch implemented policies that separated the indigenous population from East Asians such as Chinese and Arabs. The tension and violence that frequently occur against ethnic Chinese today are the result of the Dutch colonial policies of separation and discrimination. In normal times, they mingled, and their relations improved over time.
We should jointly study and reflect upon this historical experience of harmonious coexistence, and through dialogue today, carry forward the tradition of mutual understanding and harmony between Nusantara Muslims and Chinese Confucian culture.
9. Pancasila & Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
Pancasila consists of five values, which are the nation's fundamental values, developed over centuries. These are:
1) Belief in One Almighty God;
2) Just and civilized humanity;
3) Indonesian unity;
4) Democracy guided by wisdom in deliberation and representation; and
5) Social justice for all Indonesian people.
Furthermore, this civilized tradition has fostered a deeply rooted tradition of unity in diversity, or officially known in Sanskrit as Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, the official motto of the Indonesian state.
In any modern era, Indonesia will continue to value the foundations of the Indonesian nation, namely spirituality and religion.
10. Religious Moderation
Spirituality and religion in Indonesia are not merely personal guidelines independent of the social and political spheres, but are part of the social and political structure itself.
The government and authorities cannot proceed alone with their political and economic agendas without the contribution of spirituality and religion, and the involvement of religious leaders and spirituals.
Harmony between religion and tradition is one of the key programs of the government, known as "religious moderation." The government provides direction and guidance to the public on how to respect each other in all aspects, especially beliefs, behavior, and traditions, as well as in politics and power.
Furthermore, the government also provides direction and guidance to civil servants and government service personnel not to discriminate against people based on religion, tradition, ethnicity, ethnicity, or gender.
11. Pancasila & Bhinneka Tunggal Ika
Through two philosophical discoveries, Pancasila and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, the Indonesian nation has survived and emerged from various threats, such as internal division and external intervention.
These two philosophical discoveries of the Indonesian nation have stood the test of time, challenges, and technological developments, as well as changes in character and global geopolitics, such as polarization and war.
12. Diverse Context
We, the Indonesian people, feel that now is the time, in this era of uncertain global changes, imbalanced power, and threats from other countries, to offer a philosophical discovery of harmony that we have tested repeatedly within the diverse context of the Indonesian nation, to serve as input for the global community.
I believe that if we collaborate for a new moral force, based on spirituality and religion and traditions that are harmonious and dynamic, we can go beyond the mainstream situation of egoism and monopoly brought by the West during the last few centuries.
