NUSA DUA, Indonesia – Nearly 800 delegates from 45 countries are attending the first World Culture Forum that opened Monday (November 25th) in Bali, local media reported.

The event, run by Indonesia's Education and Culture Ministry and UNESCO, promotes culture as an important way to build relationships among countries and boost economic growth.

"This forum will discuss in depth how culture can contribute to achieving sustainable development," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the opening, according to the Jakarta Globe. "This World Culture Forum is designed to complement and strengthen existing initiatives, including those under the framework of UNESCO."

The president said culture could become a viable source of income for people.

"Indonesia has taken a number of measures to make culture a driver of sustainable development. This includes the development of sustainable cultural tourism and cultural infrastructure," Yudhoyono said.

He cited a UN report that showed cultural and creative industries were one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy, with a growth rate of 9.7% in Asia.

As many as 64 speakers from 30 countries were expected to speak during the four-day forum, according to The Jakarta Post.