Delegates from 37 Asian and European countries met here to seek ways in developing economic potentialities that can be sourced from heritage cities.

The biennial Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Culture Ministers Meeting (CMM) in Yogyakarta, the Indonesian heritage city, was the fifth after the previous one held in Poznan, Poland in Sept. 2010. The forum discusses issues pertaining to cultural diversity, heritage conservation and cultural cooperation between Asia and Europe regions.

The meeting, themed "Managing Heritage Cities for a Sustainable Future", is particularly focusing on efforts to create financial benefit from the existence of many heritage cities in the two regions for people living in those cities and for the countries as well.

"Heritage cities with their unique monuments, building and culture are highly potential to contribute prosperity for the people. With hundreds of years of civilization, the two countries have many heritage cities with their unique buildings, culture and landscapes. We can work together to sustainable managing those cities, making the best out of them to prosper the people," Indonesian Education and the Culture Minister Muhammad Noeh said in his speech conveyed at the forum on Tuesday.

He said that to reach the aim it would require strong commitments from stakeholders involved in the efforts, including governments and the public.

"Cooperation in community level is very important to address this goal. Education holds very important role to promote this plan and improve conservation efforts in heritage cities," Nicos Panayi, European Union (EU) representative in the forum said.

He added that the existence of heritage cities in Asia and Europe are expected not merely attracting tourists, but also investors in tourism and hospitality business as well.

Indonesia itself has moved forward to source high economy potentialities from its heritage cities by boosting up tourism sector in those cities, seeking more of people's involvement in advancing the economy from creative industry.

Number of budget hotels in heritage cities built by investors has been increasing in the last few years, attracting more tourists to visit those heritage cities in the country.

Besides efforts conducted at home, Indonesian government also seeks cooperation with other countries to preserve and advance conservation efforts in its heritage cities. Indonesian government has drafted cooperation agreements with delegates of four countries attending the forum that is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday.

Wiendu Nuryanti, Indonesian education and culture deputy minister said that the government will set up bilateral cooperation with China, India, Bangladesh and Estonia in terms of conservation efforts, training and artists exchange programs.

"With China delegate, we will establish cooperation in conservation sector, particularly to rebuild and restore heritage cities affected by natural or man-made disasters. China has the experience and capability to rebuild its heritage cities ruined by earthquake within two years. Through this cooperation, China will send its experts to rebuild heritage cities in Indonesia should disasters hit and ruin Indonesia's heritage cities," Wiendu said here on Monday.

Indonesia saw a major earthquake in Yogyakarta in 2008 that partly affecting historical buildings in the city that were built during old Javanese kingdom era and Dutch colonial period.

With Estonia delegate, Indonesia will set up cooperation to exchange artists assigned to beautify heritage cities in the two countries. Meanwhile with India and Bangladesh, Indonesia will set up cooperation heritage city decoration and craftsmanship training program respectively, she said.