Semarang, C.Java, (Antara) - The Indonesian Language Center of Central Java province has stressed the importance of keeping Indonesia in line with the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015.
"AEC is associated with economic aspects. However, economic development will affect other aspects, including culture and language," the Head of Indonesian Language Center of Central Java, Pardi Suratno said on Friday.
According to him, many universities are cooperating with the center to hold programs, which are aimed at growing insight into the important position of Indonesian language.
"We hope Indonesian language will not deteriorate with the implementation of the ASEAN free market starting in December," he said.
He added that Indonesian should be preserved as the national language in face of the implementation of the ASEAN free market.
Pardi hoped that Indonesian does not become only a symbol as many foreign influences were set to come to Indonesia.
Such anticipatory measures should be taken, he said, encouraging foreigners working in Indonesia to use Indonesian.
"Such measures should not be deemed offensive. The Indonesian people should also be willing to learn foreign languages," he said.(*)
