The foreign ministers of Indonesia and Malaysia met today to smooth over a heated feud between the two countries over the "theft" of a traditional Balinese dance.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda told reporters after a meeting with his Malaysian counterpart that he and Anifah Aman agreed to avoid "sensitive issues" such as staking claims to each others cultures.

"We agreed that, as close neighbours, some cultural heritage in Indonesia is also found in Malaysia and some Malay culture is also in Indonesia," Wirajuda said.

"We shouldn't be too sensitive... because arts and culture have universal tendencies," he added.

The dispute erupted in Indonesia in August after erroneous reports emerged that Malaysia had screened tourism advertisements featuring the traditional "pendet" dance of Indonesia's Hindu-majority Bali island.

The ad was actually a promotion for a Discovery Channel programme, but this did little to quell a media-fuelled rage in Indonesia that saw protesters vow to "crush Malaysia" and vigilante sweeps aimed at rounding up Malaysians.

"I don't even know what pendet dance is. We've never claimed that the pendet dance belongs to Malaysians. It was a mistake of the Discovery Channel, they've clarified to us and we've accepted their explanation," Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah said.

"Our cultural products may have similarities. That shouldn't be a problem and any problems can be discussed amicably," he said.

Ties between the two countries are regularly punctuated by rows over cultural issues as well as the welfare of Indonesian labourers and maids working in Malaysia.

- AFP